The Parable of the Shrewd Manager or Unjust Steward: Luke 16:1-15
by Owen Borville
Often mentioned as the most difficult of the parables of Jesus to understand, the Parable of the Shrewd Manager (or Unjust Steward), is recorded in Luke 16:1-15.
The parable begins by Jesus describing a steward or manager who negotiates deals for his master. As the manager was about to be fired for wasting his master's possessions, he negotiated discounts to his master's debtors in order to make friends with the debtors so they might help him out later and possibly hire him. Surprisingly, the master commends his manager for his shrewd dealings. Some believe that the manager discounted his own portion of the debt and paid his master in full. The manager made the debtors happy and therefore made the master happy.
Jesus then explains how the people of this world are more shrewd with their own people than the people of the light, or are more shrewd with worldly things than heavenly things. Jesus is not commending the unjust behavior of the manager or the master. He is simply explaining that good can come from unjust behavior, just as the Pharisees did good works by promoting the law and leading the people to righteousness but they themselves were "lovers of money" and their hearts were not truly with God. Just as the shrewd manager was doing good things for his "friends" and his master, his actions were dishonest and sinful in the eyes of God.
Jesus also explained in the parable to use the worldly things you have now to make ‘friends’ for later. (Luke 16:9).
And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. Then, when those things are gone, you will be welcomed into a home that lasts forever.
Jesus is explaining to use the money of this world for good works and to do good things for the Kingdom so that when those things are gone, an eternal reward will be waiting. Use the things of this world for the Kingdom and not for yourself and therefore you will be rewarded in Heaven.
Jesus also explained in the parable that if one cannot be trusted unrighteous things, how can one be trusted with righteous things?
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? Luke 16:10-12.
Jesus also describes in the parable the concept of trying to serve two masters and that this is impossible, in that a man will either love one and hate the other or vise versa (Luke 16:13). Man cannot love God and money of this world at the same time. The Pharisees were doing the good works of teaching the law and the money they were collecting was going to a good cause to teach the people about the ways and laws of God, but they themselves were lovers of the money of this world and were attempting to serve both God and money.
Jesus teaches that we don't "own" money but rather the money belongs to God and that we are only stewards or temporary managers of the money to be used for the good of the Church and the Kingdom of Heaven.
As Jesus told this parable, the Pharisees heard it also:
14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. Luke 16:14-15.
by Owen Borville
Often mentioned as the most difficult of the parables of Jesus to understand, the Parable of the Shrewd Manager (or Unjust Steward), is recorded in Luke 16:1-15.
The parable begins by Jesus describing a steward or manager who negotiates deals for his master. As the manager was about to be fired for wasting his master's possessions, he negotiated discounts to his master's debtors in order to make friends with the debtors so they might help him out later and possibly hire him. Surprisingly, the master commends his manager for his shrewd dealings. Some believe that the manager discounted his own portion of the debt and paid his master in full. The manager made the debtors happy and therefore made the master happy.
Jesus then explains how the people of this world are more shrewd with their own people than the people of the light, or are more shrewd with worldly things than heavenly things. Jesus is not commending the unjust behavior of the manager or the master. He is simply explaining that good can come from unjust behavior, just as the Pharisees did good works by promoting the law and leading the people to righteousness but they themselves were "lovers of money" and their hearts were not truly with God. Just as the shrewd manager was doing good things for his "friends" and his master, his actions were dishonest and sinful in the eyes of God.
Jesus also explained in the parable to use the worldly things you have now to make ‘friends’ for later. (Luke 16:9).
And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. Then, when those things are gone, you will be welcomed into a home that lasts forever.
Jesus is explaining to use the money of this world for good works and to do good things for the Kingdom so that when those things are gone, an eternal reward will be waiting. Use the things of this world for the Kingdom and not for yourself and therefore you will be rewarded in Heaven.
Jesus also explained in the parable that if one cannot be trusted unrighteous things, how can one be trusted with righteous things?
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? Luke 16:10-12.
Jesus also describes in the parable the concept of trying to serve two masters and that this is impossible, in that a man will either love one and hate the other or vise versa (Luke 16:13). Man cannot love God and money of this world at the same time. The Pharisees were doing the good works of teaching the law and the money they were collecting was going to a good cause to teach the people about the ways and laws of God, but they themselves were lovers of the money of this world and were attempting to serve both God and money.
Jesus teaches that we don't "own" money but rather the money belongs to God and that we are only stewards or temporary managers of the money to be used for the good of the Church and the Kingdom of Heaven.
As Jesus told this parable, the Pharisees heard it also:
14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. Luke 16:14-15.
