olic preaching, he
turned aside and addressed a few withering words directly to these
uneasy interrupters.[92]

[92] From the introduction of a new subject abruptly in the 18th
verse--the much agitated question regarding a man's right to put
away his wife--I think it probable that the interruption had been
repeated and continued; that it took the form of a dialogue, the
Pharisees throwing in what they considered a damaging question, and
Jesus giving an answer by turns--a scene which is frequently
repeated in modern missions among the heathen.

When this episode was over, the Lord resumed his theme where it had been
broken off. I think it probable, both from the terms of the narrative,
and the nature of the case, that if these Pharisees had not been
present, or if they had held their peace when the preaching galled them,
the matter of verse 19th would have touched that of verse 13th--the
parable of the rich man and Lazarus would have been connected in place
as well as in purport with that of the prudent steward.

When he had followed up the first parable with a pungent application
regarding the abuse of riches, "the Pharisees, also, who were covetous,
heard all these things, and they derided him." To them, in reply to
their jesting, he spoke the words verses 14-18, and then resumed, in
verse 19th, "There was a certain rich man," &c.[93]

[93] Dr. Trench's disquisition regarding the latent union between
covetousness and prodigality, involving a proof that the discourse
about the rich man was applicable to the Pharisees who were not of
prodigal habits, although very good in itself, is scarcely relevant;
inasmuch as it is not the parable of the rich man, but the reproofs
intervening between it and the unjust steward that are expressly
addressed to the Pharisees.

At the beginning of the chapter, addressing his own disciples
particularly, although some of the Pharisees were present, he had taught
them from the case of the prudent steward to use the possessions of this
world with a view to their bearing on the next; and now, to complete the
lesson, he will teach them, by a terrible example, the consequences of
neglecting that rule.

But before we proceed to examine the parable in detail, it is important
to determine generally regarding its nature whether it is an allegory in
which spiritual things are represented by sensible objects, or simply an
instructive example, historic or poetic, char