Luke 16:1-13

VII. Understand the proper significance of money, Luke 16:1-17:10.

Followers of Christ belong a spiritual kingdom, and yet live their lives in the material realities of earth.  This presents certain challenges as we live in one country while being citizens of a heavenly country (cf. Phil. 3:20-21).  The challenge is seldom greater than in the use of money.

This common theme is evident in Luke 16:1-17:10.  The point of the parable is you cannot serve God and mammon (16:13).  The story of the rich man and Lazarus illustrates a principle that is directed toward the Pharisees who were lovers of money (16:14).  We will see that money presents challenges that make it easy to cause others to stumble (17:1-4) and require great faith (17:5-10).

·        *The parable of the unjust steward, 16:1-13.

Many find this parable to be perplexing.  It sounds as if the servant was stealing from his master and that Jesus approved of this.  But look closer and you will see something important for followers of Christ in how they use money.

This steward was not a simple servant; he had great authority to do the master’s work for him in master’s name.  The steward was doing what he was empowered to do, and v8 says that the master actually commends the man for what he did.  The word shrewdly (v8) is a wisdom term.  It is not a term that indicates evil; it is a compliment, both from the master (v8) and our Master (v9).  Luke 12:42 says this is the kind of person a master wants as his steward: that faithful and wise steward whom his master will make ruler over his household.  

Another things that helps us understand this parable is to remember the basic rules for interpreting a parable.  Here is a reminder of those principles.

1.     Seek to understand “the earthly details” … as well as the original hearers did.

2.     Note the attitude and spiritual condition of the original hearers.

3.     If possible, note the reason prompted Jesus to use the parable.

4.     State concisely the main point of the parable.

5.     Try to relate the main point … to the basic aspects of Jesus’ teaching.

6.     Observe whether any generalizing sayings have come into the … narrative.

7.     Where most of the details of a parable are explained, try even harder to uncover the main emphasis.

(Interpreting the Bible, A. Berkeley Mickelsen, Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub Co, 1963)

With this background we see that Jesus indicates the point of the parable.  He is making a connection between the sons of this world and the sons of light (v8).  As the steward showed wisdom so Jesus’ followers need to have wisdom in this world and in the use of money (v11).  We do not worship money (v13) but living in this world we must be wise/shrewd in the use of it, a shrewdness that will carry over into the carrying out of our service in the spiritual realm.