1And then Jesus also told this story to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man, who had a steward who was accused of wasting his goods (possessions). 2And he summoned, and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship; because you may no longer be steward.’ 3Then the steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot do physical labor like digging; and I am too proud to beg. 4I know what I will do, so that when I am put out of the stewardship, people will welcome me into their homes.’ 5So he called in each of his master's debtors, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6And he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil’. And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly, and write “fifty”’. 7Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ And he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write “eighty”’. 8And the master commended the dishonest steward, because he had acted shrewdly; for it is true that the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light (believers whose eyes are focused on a more distant and lasting prize). 9And I say to you, ‘Use your worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves; that, when your worldly wealth is gone, they will welcome you into an everlasting (eternal) home.’”

10“He that is faithful (can be trusted) with the little things is also faithful (can be trusted) in larger matters; and he that is unjust (dishonest) in the little things will also be dishonest with greater responsibilities. 11So if you have not been faithful in handling material things, such as the money of this world, who will trust you with the true and lasting riches? 12And if you have not been faithful (trustworthy) with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? 13No one can serve two masters: either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will be devoted to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

14And the Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all these things; and they scoffed at Him. 15Then He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of other men; but God knows your hearts. What people highly esteem is often detestable in the eyes of God. 16The law and the prophets were your guides until John the Baptist. Since that time, the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached (proclaimed), and every man is eager to get in. 17But that does not mean that the law is no longer in effect. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear, than for one tittle (smallest point) of the law to fail. 18Whoever divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery; and the man who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.”

19Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man, who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day; 20And there was a beggar, named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, covered with sores, 21Hoping to get the crumbs and scraps which fell from the rich man's table; and the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22And the time came when that beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hades, where he was in torments, he looked, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus at his side. 24And he called to him, and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame’. 25But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime, you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26And furthermore, between you and us there is a great gulf (chasm) set in place; so that no one can pass from here to you; nor can anyone pass from there to us.’ 27Then former rich man said, ‘Then I beg you, father Abraham, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28For I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, so that they will not come into this place of torment.’ 29Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them listen to them’. 30But he said, ‘No, father Abraham; if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent and turn to God.’ 31And Abraham said to him, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced, even if someone rises from the dead.’”