The Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-9

Understanding the story What is a steward? What is a steward? What is his relationship to the master? What is his relationship to the master? Who are the debtors? Who are the debtors? What are the bills? What are the bills? There is much about the setting, history, and customs that make the story hard to understand There is much about the setting, history, and customs that make the story hard to understand So permit me to try to retell the story in a modern setting So permit me to try to retell the story in a modern setting

The Enron parable There was a CFO of a major corporation There was a CFO of a major corporation The CFO embezzled huge amounts The CFO embezzled huge amounts The shareholders find out and demand an audit The shareholders find out and demand an audit Before the audit, the CFO rewrites loan documents to forgive enormous sums to the company’s debtors Before the audit, the CFO rewrites loan documents to forgive enormous sums to the company’s debtors After he is fired, he expects to be hired by one of the debtor companies After he is fired, he expects to be hired by one of the debtor companies The shareholders find out what happened The shareholders find out what happened And they say, “Good job!” And they say, “Good job!”

But, that ending…? Either parable seems to make sense Either parable seems to make sense Until the very end Until the very end Why would the embezzler be praised? Why would the embezzler be praised? Some look at the word “shrewd” and say he was praised for making a clever plan Some look at the word “shrewd” and say he was praised for making a clever plan But who would praise such wickedness? But who would praise such wickedness? Even Jesus’ final statement seems odd Even Jesus’ final statement seems odd “Make friends with unrighteous mammon (wealth)”? “Make friends with unrighteous mammon (wealth)”? Isn’t that wrong? (Matt. 6:24) Isn’t that wrong? (Matt. 6:24)

Understanding the parable What’s the context of this parable? What’s the context of this parable? Lk 15:1-10 Parables of loss (sheep and coin) and repentance Lk 15:1-10 Parables of loss (sheep and coin) and repentance Lk 15:11-32 Parable of loss (son), repentance, forgiveness, jealousy and lack of forgiveness Lk 15:11-32 Parable of loss (son), repentance, forgiveness, jealousy and lack of forgiveness Lk 16:19-31 Story of eternal loss (soul) and of eternal salvation Lk 16:19-31 Story of eternal loss (soul) and of eternal salvation Loss is the common element before and after our parable Loss is the common element before and after our parable Along with actions subsequent to the loss Along with actions subsequent to the loss So keep this in mind: Where is the loss in our parable? And what are the actions subsequent to the loss? So keep this in mind: Where is the loss in our parable? And what are the actions subsequent to the loss?

The Pharisees The parables were told to the Pharisees and scribes (Lk 15:3) The parables were told to the Pharisees and scribes (Lk 15:3) Because they did not like Jesus spending time with sinners Because they did not like Jesus spending time with sinners What was their reaction to our parable? What was their reaction to our parable? Lk 16:14 – They were scoffing, deriding Him Lk 16:14 – They were scoffing, deriding Him The parable didn’t make sense to them either The parable didn’t make sense to them either They knew the master would not praise the wicked They knew the master would not praise the wicked Money was something they understood Money was something they understood Perhaps thought Jesus was ignorant of how money- management worked Perhaps thought Jesus was ignorant of how money- management worked

“You are the man!” Do you remember that line from Nathan when he set up David with a story? (2 Sam 12:1-7) Do you remember that line from Nathan when he set up David with a story? (2 Sam 12:1-7) Jesus says a similar thing Jesus says a similar thing “You are those who justify themselves in the sight of men!” (Lk 16:15) “You are those who justify themselves in the sight of men!” (Lk 16:15) The unjust steward (wicked manager) represents the Pharisees The unjust steward (wicked manager) represents the Pharisees If you missed this, you missed the point of the parable If you missed this, you missed the point of the parable

A second look at the parable The Pharisees (and all Jews) were given spiritual responsibility from God (like the Parable of the Talents) The Pharisees (and all Jews) were given spiritual responsibility from God (like the Parable of the Talents) Instead of making good use of their position for God, they looked out only for themselves Instead of making good use of their position for God, they looked out only for themselves God demanded an audit (judgment through John the Baptist and Jesus) God demanded an audit (judgment through John the Baptist and Jesus) Instead of repenting, the Pharisees went into even greater wickedness to make life even easier for themselves Instead of repenting, the Pharisees went into even greater wickedness to make life even easier for themselves

A second look at the parable But the ending? But the ending? Will God praise them for their shrewdness? Will God praise them for their shrewdness? The Pharisees laughed; they knew the master would not praise the wicked The Pharisees laughed; they knew the master would not praise the wicked Yet they were living as if they expected God would praise their shrewdness Yet they were living as if they expected God would praise their shrewdness But He won’t (Lk 16:15) But He won’t (Lk 16:15) Even if men praised the wickedness (which they don’t), God finds it detestable Even if men praised the wickedness (which they don’t), God finds it detestable They should have been seeking the lost (sinners), not causing more to be lost They should have been seeking the lost (sinners), not causing more to be lost

Application (Luke 16:8b-13) Worldly people will get the worldly point quicker than spiritual people will get the spiritual point (v8b) Worldly people will get the worldly point quicker than spiritual people will get the spiritual point (v8b) If you are concerned with what money can buy, you’ll spend eternity with likeminded people (v9) If you are concerned with what money can buy, you’ll spend eternity with likeminded people (v9) No such thing as “a little sinful” (v10) No such thing as “a little sinful” (v10) But what about the things (physical and spiritual) with which you have been entrusted? (v11-13) But what about the things (physical and spiritual) with which you have been entrusted? (v11-13) Are you using them for God? Are you using them for God? Do you expect a reward based on how you use them? Do you expect a reward based on how you use them? Are you seeking the lost or sending them away? Are you seeking the lost or sending them away?

Meaning of the parable Worldly point to the story Worldly point to the story If you are dishonest, you will be found out If you are dishonest, you will be found out When you are found out, you will be punished When you are found out, you will be punished Even more clever wickedness will not save you, it will just get more people punished with you Even more clever wickedness will not save you, it will just get more people punished with you

Meaning of the parable Spiritual point for which the parable was told Spiritual point for which the parable was told If you don’t give God your best, then you are embezzling from God and you are known by God If you don’t give God your best, then you are embezzling from God and you are known by God Since you are known to be embezzling, God will punish you (unless you truly repent and have sins forgiven) Since you are known to be embezzling, God will punish you (unless you truly repent and have sins forgiven) Don’t think that more embezzling (e.g., making a pretense of service) will somehow make things right Don’t think that more embezzling (e.g., making a pretense of service) will somehow make things right God knows where your true loyalty lies God knows where your true loyalty lies

Conclusion What kind of steward have you been with the things God has given you? What kind of steward have you been with the things God has given you? Are you bringing the lost to Christ or causing them to stay lost? Are you bringing the lost to Christ or causing them to stay lost?