Finally, we are here in that chapter, Luke 16, a chapter famous for two parables. The parable of the unjust steward and that of Lazarus. How I love the story of Lazarus. It was straight forward and down to earth, everyone seems to agree on the message this parable seems to be passing across. It's the other parable, the one of the unjust steward that worries me. I never really understood what Jesus was trying to teach here. All my Sunday school teachers never made it easy too, I tend to hear different interpretations of the same parable at different Bible study gatherings! Everyone harped on how the lord commended the unjust steward. The lord mentioned here is the master of the unjust steward and not the Lord Jesus Christ for each time it is the Lord, it always starts with the capital letter L. Anyway that is if you are reading from the KJV, which to me is the closest to the original Bible translation.
There are so many variations in revelations of what this parable really teaches. And in this blog post, I will attempt to unveil what I believe to be what the parable is communicating. I am not going to imply any meaning that the text in the Bible does not suggest. We will look purely at the words of the master which I believe are self-explanatory.
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PARABLES
Before we go on about interpreting this parable it's good to set aside some common misconceptions about the parables of Jesus!
1. People have always assumed that every parable Jesus speaks is always about the kingdom of God. This is not always so. Where the parable is about specifically and directly about the kingdom Jesus always takes time to explain. All parables are about God's kingdom but there are some that specifically speak to its character and its operation. This parable of the unjust steward is not one such.
2. It is not every parable that infers master necessarily mean it is God or the father that is been represented as such in the parable. People have gone as far as seeing every parable depicting the character of God the father or the master, it isn't necessarily so. Where the meaning is implied we will know from the text, but where it is not we must not view every parable as God, or the father been the central figure! Many have interpreted the master in this parable to be God or Jesus, it is not so!
3. Parables are given sometimes to give parallel interpretations and not direct interpretation always. This sounds much like number 2 above but there is more. Jesus can give a parable based on what is happening in the world and then use it to draw a parallel comparison with what obtains in the kingdom. Sometimes the meaning may be directly the same as what happens in the kingdom and at other times it is the direct opposite!
In the instance of this parable of the unjust steward, most of the points I highlighted above are true!
AN OVERVIEW OF THE PARABLE( Luke 16:1-14)
Rather than quoting the text of this passage I will attempt to surmise what we have read there.
A certain rich man had a steward working for him who squandered his possessions. I take it that this means he must have helped himself to too much that belonged to his master. I can imagine that in our culture this would mean padded expense accounts, lavish meals and accommodations, a prado jeep, and the like. This man was consuming much of his master’s wealth but producing very little. He was not working for his master, but for himself. Unlike Joseph, who saw his stewardship as a sacred trust, and who thus refused to “use” his master’s wife, this steward seems to have helped himself to everything that was within his reach.
Word got to the steward’s master, who fired the man, effective at a future date. During this short time, the steward was expected to get his master’s accounts in order so that he could be replaced. This short period of time was not intended for the steward’s benefit, but for the master’s. The steward, however, was highly motivated. He was too old to “dig ditches” and he was too proud to beg. He must think of some way that he can make use of his master’s goods during this short time to prepare for his own future.
Like a flash, it came to him. He would make use of his position and his master’s possessions in the little time that was left, in such a way as to provide for his needs far into the future. While his position and his master’s possessions would be taken from him, he could make friends who would take care of him. And so he set out to do it. He called in each and every one of his master’s debtors. Each seems to have been a party to this “scam,” but each is benefited by a significant reduction in their obligation to the steward’s master. Thus, all are indebted to the steward.
JESUS INTERPRETATION OF THE PARABLE(PART 1)
Before we consider the master’s response to being “ripped off” or our Lord’s commentary on this parable, let us take note of the wickedness of the steward, as seen in his deeds. The steward was unrighteous, both at the beginning of the parable and at the end. The steward was not just unrighteous as a person, he was unfaithful as a steward. He was unfaithful to his task and to his master. This unfaithfulness is what necessitated his shrewdness in preparing for his future. Every indication points to the fact that the allegations against the steward (squandering his possessions) were accurate. The steward did not change for the good, he only became more shrewd in doing evil. The steward’s attitudes and actions were all motivated by self-interest. He involved others in his sinful “scam.” It is inconceivable that the rich man’s debtors were not co-conspirators with the steward. They knew what they were doing. The steward, then, appealed to their greed.
In the telling of this parable, Jesus did not minimize the evil this man did, nor did He in any way commend him for doing evil, but His master did commend him. Probably, the biggest surprise of the parable is that the master, who has just been “ripped off” by his steward, is able to praise his steward. This praise is not for the good that he has done his master, nor for the ethical aspects of his deed, but simply for the shrewdness which he displayed.
The critical question here is this: Why can a man who has just been “ripped off” by his employee, a man who has suffered a substantial and irretrievable loss, commend a crooked employee? The answer to this question is given by our Lord in verse 8. Jesus’ answer is the key to the interpretation of this passage, so let us consider it very carefully.
“And his master praised the unrighteous steward because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind [literally, “their own generation”] than the sons of light” (Luke 16:8).
The first part of verse 8 is the conclusion of the parable. The story concludes with the account of the master’s praise of his steward’s shrewdness. In the second half of verse 8, our Lord begins His commentary on the parable. How are we to understand and apply this parable? What does it mean? The answer comes from our Lord, who begins to interpret this story in the second half of verse 8 with an explanation of why the master can praise the shrewdness of his unrighteous steward. That there is an explanation coming is indicated by the “for” (both in the NIV and the NASB), which precedes the statement, “the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light.”
Our Lord’s words here indicate several important realities. (1) Both the unrighteous steward and his master appreciated (valued) the same thing—shrewdness. You don’t command a man for something you disdain. (2) Both the unrighteous steward and his master were members of the group which our Lord characterized as “the sons of this age.” The contemporary expression, “it takes one to know one” fits here. The master could recognize and appreciate “shrewdness” because he valued it and he practiced it, and as such he was “one” with his steward. (3) Neither the master nor his steward were members of the group identified as the “sons of light.” I take it that this means neither of them knew God—they were unbelievers
Read full blog post here UNDERSTANDING CHRIST: A Look Through The Book Of Luke - Luke 16
There are so many variations in revelations of what this parable really teaches. And in this blog post, I will attempt to unveil what I believe to be what the parable is communicating. I am not going to imply any meaning that the text in the Bible does not suggest. We will look purely at the words of the master which I believe are self-explanatory.
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PARABLES
Before we go on about interpreting this parable it's good to set aside some common misconceptions about the parables of Jesus!
1. People have always assumed that every parable Jesus speaks is always about the kingdom of God. This is not always so. Where the parable is about specifically and directly about the kingdom Jesus always takes time to explain. All parables are about God's kingdom but there are some that specifically speak to its character and its operation. This parable of the unjust steward is not one such.
2. It is not every parable that infers master necessarily mean it is God or the father that is been represented as such in the parable. People have gone as far as seeing every parable depicting the character of God the father or the master, it isn't necessarily so. Where the meaning is implied we will know from the text, but where it is not we must not view every parable as God, or the father been the central figure! Many have interpreted the master in this parable to be God or Jesus, it is not so!
3. Parables are given sometimes to give parallel interpretations and not direct interpretation always. This sounds much like number 2 above but there is more. Jesus can give a parable based on what is happening in the world and then use it to draw a parallel comparison with what obtains in the kingdom. Sometimes the meaning may be directly the same as what happens in the kingdom and at other times it is the direct opposite!
In the instance of this parable of the unjust steward, most of the points I highlighted above are true!
AN OVERVIEW OF THE PARABLE( Luke 16:1-14)
Rather than quoting the text of this passage I will attempt to surmise what we have read there.
A certain rich man had a steward working for him who squandered his possessions. I take it that this means he must have helped himself to too much that belonged to his master. I can imagine that in our culture this would mean padded expense accounts, lavish meals and accommodations, a prado jeep, and the like. This man was consuming much of his master’s wealth but producing very little. He was not working for his master, but for himself. Unlike Joseph, who saw his stewardship as a sacred trust, and who thus refused to “use” his master’s wife, this steward seems to have helped himself to everything that was within his reach.
Word got to the steward’s master, who fired the man, effective at a future date. During this short time, the steward was expected to get his master’s accounts in order so that he could be replaced. This short period of time was not intended for the steward’s benefit, but for the master’s. The steward, however, was highly motivated. He was too old to “dig ditches” and he was too proud to beg. He must think of some way that he can make use of his master’s goods during this short time to prepare for his own future.
Like a flash, it came to him. He would make use of his position and his master’s possessions in the little time that was left, in such a way as to provide for his needs far into the future. While his position and his master’s possessions would be taken from him, he could make friends who would take care of him. And so he set out to do it. He called in each and every one of his master’s debtors. Each seems to have been a party to this “scam,” but each is benefited by a significant reduction in their obligation to the steward’s master. Thus, all are indebted to the steward.
JESUS INTERPRETATION OF THE PARABLE(PART 1)
Before we consider the master’s response to being “ripped off” or our Lord’s commentary on this parable, let us take note of the wickedness of the steward, as seen in his deeds. The steward was unrighteous, both at the beginning of the parable and at the end. The steward was not just unrighteous as a person, he was unfaithful as a steward. He was unfaithful to his task and to his master. This unfaithfulness is what necessitated his shrewdness in preparing for his future. Every indication points to the fact that the allegations against the steward (squandering his possessions) were accurate. The steward did not change for the good, he only became more shrewd in doing evil. The steward’s attitudes and actions were all motivated by self-interest. He involved others in his sinful “scam.” It is inconceivable that the rich man’s debtors were not co-conspirators with the steward. They knew what they were doing. The steward, then, appealed to their greed.
In the telling of this parable, Jesus did not minimize the evil this man did, nor did He in any way commend him for doing evil, but His master did commend him. Probably, the biggest surprise of the parable is that the master, who has just been “ripped off” by his steward, is able to praise his steward. This praise is not for the good that he has done his master, nor for the ethical aspects of his deed, but simply for the shrewdness which he displayed.
The critical question here is this: Why can a man who has just been “ripped off” by his employee, a man who has suffered a substantial and irretrievable loss, commend a crooked employee? The answer to this question is given by our Lord in verse 8. Jesus’ answer is the key to the interpretation of this passage, so let us consider it very carefully.
“And his master praised the unrighteous steward because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind [literally, “their own generation”] than the sons of light” (Luke 16:8).
The first part of verse 8 is the conclusion of the parable. The story concludes with the account of the master’s praise of his steward’s shrewdness. In the second half of verse 8, our Lord begins His commentary on the parable. How are we to understand and apply this parable? What does it mean? The answer comes from our Lord, who begins to interpret this story in the second half of verse 8 with an explanation of why the master can praise the shrewdness of his unrighteous steward. That there is an explanation coming is indicated by the “for” (both in the NIV and the NASB), which precedes the statement, “the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light.”
Our Lord’s words here indicate several important realities. (1) Both the unrighteous steward and his master appreciated (valued) the same thing—shrewdness. You don’t command a man for something you disdain. (2) Both the unrighteous steward and his master were members of the group which our Lord characterized as “the sons of this age.” The contemporary expression, “it takes one to know one” fits here. The master could recognize and appreciate “shrewdness” because he valued it and he practiced it, and as such he was “one” with his steward. (3) Neither the master nor his steward were members of the group identified as the “sons of light.” I take it that this means neither of them knew God—they were unbelievers
Read full blog post here UNDERSTANDING CHRIST: A Look Through The Book Of Luke - Luke 16
