Luke 16:1-9

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-Well, we’ve come to another new chapter...

…on the the first Lord’s day of this new year.

We’re going to be in Luke 16...

…if you want to...

…turn there and follow along in your Bibles.

I went back and forth on whether to...

Move ahead in Luke

Do an exhortation for the upcoming New Year

But when I started to...

…peruse this text beyond a surface reading...

I realized that (in God’s good providence)...

…with it, we could do both!

And I say that because...

…what we have before us, is...

…a parable about stewardship.

It’s often referred to as...

The Parable of the Unjust Steward

And through it, Jesus teaches a number of lessons...

All of which, are helpful for us to consider...

…as we step into a new year...

…and seek to renew our commitment...

…to glorifying God in our lives.

-Now, let me say this upfront:

This is a difficult parable to interpret

MANY say that it is Jesus’ MOST difficult parable.

And as such, there are many varied...

…and (I think) erroneous interpretations out there.

But, we’ll try to (by the grace of God)...

…navigate those difficulties faithfully and biblically...

…and resolve some of the tensions...

…that we're going to see in verse 8...

…and hopefully, come away from it all...

…inspired and resolved...

…to be better, and more faithful...

…in our stewardship of our Master’s affairs!

But, as I said before...

…we’re going to need grace and power...

…to do that… amen?

Alright, let’s read the text...

…and entreat our Master’s help.

Luke 16:1–13 (ESV)

1 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.

2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’

3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.

4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’

5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’

7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.

9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?

13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

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-So, Luke doesn’t give us any indication...

…that the setting has changed from that of Chapter 15.

(And that may provide us with...

…some really helpful context)

Let’s be reminded of what that setting was:

Luke 15:1 (ESV)

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

This means that they were...

Coming to him in repentance and faith

(Presumably) assuming the posture of his disciples

-And remember:

Luke 15:2 (ESV)

2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

And in response, Luke tells us:

Luke 15:3 (ESV)

3 So he told them this parable:

The 3 “Lost” Parables.

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-So, it seems like, to me...

…that Chapter 16, Verse 1...

…is being placed in that same broader context...

…but with a clear change in direct audience...

(although, if you’ll notice in verse 14...

…the Pharisees are still listening in).

-Look at Verse 1 again:

Luke tells us:

Luke 16:1 (ESV)

1 He also said to the disciples...

So, this is meant for his followers, right?

For those who (at least) profess to be his disciples.

As we’ll see next week...

…there’s application for both groups...

…but he’s specifically directing it to them...

…some of which, were...

Very wealthy...

Formerly dishonest...

TAX COLLECTORS!

This is what he tells them...

…beginning in the middle of Verse 1:

Luke 16:1 (ESV)

1 . . . “There was a rich man who had a manager...

(“manager” = “steward”)

Literally: “the law of the house”

Someone who would manage someone’s large estate...

...to/for their (owner’s) benefit and profit.

He would have an almost unchecked authority...

…subject only to the master himself.

That is why, as Paul says, in:

1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV)

2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Why?

The nature of that office necessitates it.

A steward has to be...

…chiefly and primarily concerned...

…with his master’s success and advancement...

…over and above his own!

-And there’s a lesson in that for us already, brethren...

In that, the New Testament (many times over)...

…describes us as GOD’s STEWARDS!

The language is usually directed...

To those in church leadership.

For example:

1 Corinthians 4:1 (ESV)

1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Titus 1:7 (ESV)

7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach...

But, it’s also used more broadly:

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

So, none of us are off the hook.

The calling of the Christian...

(EVERY Christian)

…is one of stewardship to Christ!

And again:

1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV)

2 ...it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

-Now, with that precept in mind...

…let’s consider the steward in our parable (end of Verse 1):

Luke 16:1 (ESV)

1 …There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.

So, again, we see our understanding of stewardship...

…being reinforced, right?

The possessions were the master’s...

He was supposed to manage them efficiently...

…to bring a return for his master.

But, rather than doing that faithfully...

…he did what the prodigal son had done.

(Luke uses the same word in the original...

…to describe the wasteful squandering of both men!)

So, if these accusations are true...

This man has been a very UNfaithful steward.

He’s been a PRODIGAL steward.

-Look at Verse 2:

There we see the master’s response to the allegations:

Luke 16:2 (ESV)

2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’

So, notice:

There’s no mention of a defense, or an appeal.

The Steward is guilty as charged.

So, the master:

Strips him of his position...

Demands that he turn in all his business documents...

…so that his successor can conduct the business of his estate.

-Now, this demand gave the steward...

…a window of opportunity...

…to do something to mitigate...

…the effects of his firing on his personal life.

-Look at Verse 3:

Luke 16:3 (ESV)

3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.

So, by his own sinful actions...

…he’s landed himself in a bad situation.

1.) He’ll never get another stewardship...

…with the resume he’ll have now.

2.) He’s either too soft, or too lazy for manual labor...

(probably not a good sign about his character)

3.) And he’s too proud...

…to go from ruling over everyone...

…to begging at their doorsteps.

And back in those days...

…you couldn’t file for unemployment.

You could either:

Work

Beg

Be supported by others of their own free will (not gov’t compulsion)

Starve to death

So, given his disposition and constitution...

…his choice is clear.

-Look at Verse 4:

Luke 16:4 (ESV)

4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’

The language Luke uses here, would indicate...

…him being recieved into their homes...

Not as a beggar, or charity case

But as an honored guest.

His aim is to make them...

…WANT to take him in and support him.

-Here’s how he pulls it off (Verse 5):

Luke 16:5 (ESV)

5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

So, before he’s forced to turn in the books...

He’s quickly going out and making alterations to them...

…while he still has the ability to do so.

(No one knows that he’s fired yet)

-The man replies (Verse 6):

Luke 16:6 (ESV)

6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ . . .

Commentators tell me:

Around 900 gallons of oil

Three years of wages.

A very large debt.

The dishonest steward tells him:

Luke 16:6 (ESV)

6 . . . ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’

He cuts it in half!

Essentially giving the man...

…tens of thousands of dollars...

…of his master’s money...

…before he hands over the books to his master.

(the new steward will...

…have no way to know or prove...

…that this merchant owes him any more)

Was this a smart plan?

Not at all moral or righteous

But very, very shrewd

-Verse 7 is similar:

Luke 16:7 (ESV)

7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

This too, was a massive debt:

1,000 bushels of wheat

The yearly yield of 100 acres

A decade’s worth of wages!

He only lessens it by 20% this time...

But even in that...

…he still gave him 1.5 to 2 years wages...

…which would be the equivalent...

…of tens of thousands of dollars today.

(He’s really generous...

…with HIS MASTER’S money, isn’t he?)

-Guys, this is not a good person.

His actions are outright immoral.

The effort that some put...

…into trying to morally justify his actions...

…blows me away.

Philip Ryken explains:

Today the Securities and Exchange Commission would convict this manager for financial fraud.

Admittedly, some commentators have tried to defend his actions.

They have speculated that he was simply giving up his own commission in these transactions, or that he had been overcharging people and had decided to stop pocketing the difference.

However, that kind of money would have been “under the table,” not written into any contract.

Others have said that he was canceling the interest part of a loan, which he had been charging in goods rather than money so as to avoid breaking the old laws against usury (see Deut. 23:19–20). Yet, this too was unlawful.

The man’s actions speak for themselves: he was stealing money from his master, and this was morally wrong.

Besides, Jesus plainly identifies him as “the dishonest manager” (Luke 16:8). — Ryken

And that’s the biggest proof of all!

-Look at it with me:

He jumps to the master’s response:

Luke 16:8 (ESV)

8 The master commended the dishonest manager...

“commended” can be: “praised”

“dishonest” is literally:

“unrighteous” or “unjust”

This is where commentators get so uncomfortable.

They (rightly) can’t conceive of...

…Jesus “praising” the steward’s “dishonesty”. . .

…so they try to figure out a way...

…to make his actions...

Morally Justifiable

Acts of repentance.

I don’t think that’s the case at all.

Jesus, certainly ISN’T...

…praising the man’s “dishonesty” . . .

And, if you look closely...

…neither is the master in Jesus’ story:

Luke 16:8 (ESV)

8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness...

What is that?

It’s not the same as wisdom...

In fact, Luke uses...

…an entirely different word in the original.

The word here, conveys the idea of:

Cleverness in self-preservation.

Ryken, again, shouldn’t be overlooked, here:

There is a legitimate moral difference between saying, “I applaud the clever steward because he acted dishonestly,” and saying, “I applaud the dishonest steward because he acted cleverly.”

The master was saying the latter, not the former, and this is the key to understanding the parable.

Jesus was not coming out in favor of fraud, or telling us that it is right to cheat people. He was not saying that dishonesty is the best policy.

Instead, he was giving an example of how clever worldly people can be when they act in their own best interest. — Ryken

And that does seem to be the emphasis to me, brethren.

-Look at what Jesus goes on to say...

…at the end of Verse 8.

He tells us plainly, what he’s getting at:

Luke 16:8 (ESV)

8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.

(“world” = “age”)

So, if the unjust steward represents anyone...

…he’s representing “the sons of this world”

(That’s not a positive affirmation)

The “sons of this world” . . .

…are being juxtaposed with...

The “sons of light.”

Sons of this world...

Are those who are un-enlightened...

By the word of God

And the Spirit of God

The Sons of Light...

Are those who are, and have been!

It’s possible that this was meant...

…to convict the Jews of their...

…unfaithful stewardship of God’s previous revelation...

But, here is the ultimate distinction...

...between those two groups:

Philippians 3:18–20 (ESV)

18 For many . . . walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.

19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

So, what’s Jesus saying?

Calvin says that it’s this:

Christ only meant what he adds a little afterwards, that ungodly and worldly men are more industrious and skilful in conducting the affairs of this fading life,

than the children of God are anxious to obtain the heavenly and eternal life, or careful to make it the subject of their study and meditation.

How disgraceful is it that the children of light, whom God enlightens by his Spirit and word, should slumber and neglect the hope of eternal blessedness held out to them,

while worldly men are so eagerly bent on their own accommodations, and so provident and sagacious! — Calvin

Remember...

Whom he’s directing this to:

Luke 16:1 (ESV)

1 He also said to the disciples...

So, this is an exhortation to his followers!

An exhortation to do this:

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

33 ...seek first the kingdom of God...

It’s an exhortation to:

Matthew 6:19–21 (ESV)

19 “...not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

It’s an exhortation to prioritize...

The eternal

Over the temporal

The Heavenly

Over the Earthly

The Kingdom of God

Over the Kingdoms of men.

It’s an exhortation to...

Luke 12:33–34 (ESV)

33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail...

-And those exhortations...

…help us to better understand...

…that enigmatic exhortation of Verse 9...

…that also causes much confusion:

Luke 16:9 (ESV)

9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

(“unrighteous wealth” is literally “mammon”)

I think the New English Translation is helpful, here:

Luke 16:9 (NET)

9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by how you use worldly wealth, so that when it runs out you will be welcomed into the eternal homes.

J.C. Ryle says this:

“a right use of our money in this world, from right motives, will be for our benefit in the world to come.

It will not justify us. It will not bear the severity of God’s judgment, any more than other good works.

But it shall be an evidence of our grace, which shall befriend our souls.” — J.C. Ryle

Next week (Lord-Willing) we’ll look at...

…some secondary applications.

But, that seems to be the...

Primary

Over-Arching

We could summarize it, like this:

1 Timothy 6:17–19 (ESV)

17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

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That’s our exhortation for the new year!

Pray