“The Unjust Steward”

Saturday, June 24, 2017

The Parable of the Unjust Steward, in Luke 16:1-13, is widely regarded as the most difficult of the parables of Christ. But in spite of the challenges in interpreting this parable, there are important principles found here that teach valuable lessons.

The main character in the story is the steward himself. A steward is a manager or overseer of another person’s property. The master is the actual owner. Verse 1 says that the steward was accused by others of dishonesty. In the parable, the owner believed the accusations and fired the steward. Jesus did describe him as “the unjust steward” (verse 8), so apparently the charges were true.

There were two debtors. When the steward realized he was losing his job, he forgave both of a portion of their debt, one by 50% and one by 20%.

The other primary character is the master, called “a certain rich man” (verse 1).

There are several things we are not supposed to learn from this parable.

It is not recommending dishonesty. The master commended the steward for acting shrewdly (or wisely, KJV). But he did not reward him by giving him his job back. The Bible never condones dishonesty.

The parable also does not suggest that we bribe people to get them to do what we want.

And it does not tell us that if we are good managers of our money that this will secure us a home in heaven.

What it does teach us is that being wise (or shrewd) is always more beneficial to us than being dishonest.

The word translated as “shrewdly” (Greek – PHRONIMOS) means prudently, sensibly or practically wise. It is the same word used to describe the man who builds his house on the rock and the five virgins who made the appropriate preparation for the wedding.

And Jesus makes the point that sometimes “the sons of light” can learn some lessons from “the sons of this world” (verse 8). Non-Christians often behave more prudently and sensibly than some disciples of Jesus.

Christ wants us to be faithful in all areas of our lives (verses 10-11). If we are going to be loyal to the Lord, we must be side, faithful and dependable in all things. The Savior does not say it is hard to serve God and mammon (money). He said it “cannot” be done.

--Roger Hillis

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