In a puzzling parable, jesus praises a man who is a selfabsorbed cheat. The connecting link between them is the difficult expression mammon. I guess the part that gets me because im human is that the steward is basically a dishonets agent that practiced usury. And the master commended the unjust steward, because he had acted prudently. The unjust steward stole from his master, he enticed others to join in with his undercutting, and he set himself up with a future job at his masters expense.
The misunderstood parable of the unjust steward by jeff a. The parable of the unjust steward is a difficult one. Luke 16 new king james version nkjv the parable of the unjust steward. Apparently the steward is not properly handling his masters goods, so the rich master is threatening to take away all that he is a steward over. What the lord notices in the mans dubious behavior are three things of spiritual importance.
Doc in praise of the unjust steward scott watson academia. In this article i would like to explore the parable of the unjust steward and hopefully provide a little more clarity to better understand this tricky parable. Study the bible online using commentary on parable of the unrighteous. The story of the rich man and the beggar, commonly called dives and lazarus, luke 16. What is the meaning of the parable of the unjust steward. For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. The parable of the unjust steward church of christ. But certainly jesus would never teach his disciples to become bad guys.
The misunderstood parable of the unjust steward ahrc. Aspects of worship in the book of revelation donald guthrie aspects of early christian and jewish worship. Ireland there is little question that the parable of the unjust steward in luke 16. In it, a steward who is about to be fired curries favor with his masters debtors by remitting some of their debts. In luke 16 and the parable of the steward of the unrighteous economy,we find a man who is unreliable in the safekeeping of money. A history of recent interpretation of the parable of the. Now he was also saying to the disciples, there was a certain rich man who had a steward, and this steward was reported to him as squandering his possessions. It seems that jesus is encouraging his disciples to start cheating others. The unjust steward a new church bible story explanation for teaching sunday school.
Usually christians find this parable the most problematic because all the characters are bad guys. What is known as the parable of the unjust steward luke 16 is really the parable of the manager who cooked the books. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. The unjust steward is not set before us as an example in cheating his master, or to justify any dishonesty, but to point out the careful ways of worldly men.
Interpretation of the unjust steward jesus gives us a very interesting parable about the relationship between the rich master and his steward. Luke 16 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. The parable of the unjust steward is the fourth story given in a series that begins in luke 15. In verse 8, as we will see later, he is called the unrighteous steward nasb, or the unjust steward.
So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt. If the latter showed a wisdom in their affairs analogous to that which the unjust steward employed in his affairs, god would commend them as the lord commended the steward. Can you explain the parable of the unjust steward in luke. The parable of the unjust steward wise manager luke 16. In the parable of the unjust steward christ did not commend the unjust steward, but he made use of a wellknown occurrence to illustrate the.
The main subject of lukes presentation, though, is the person of the lord jesus as son of man, the true and perfect man who lived as the only just among the unjust and who suffered death for them on the cross. Even some pastors i know are no longer attending denominational meetings. The parable of the unjust steward made simple luke 16. However, only by understanding this parable from the perspective of first century. The parable of the unjust steward is about a business manager who manipulates his employers debts. In this verse, jesus is talking direct with his disciples. Lukes deft placement of jesus story about the steward continues and enhances the theme of the prior chapterproper attitudes toward wealth. Instead they choose to attend small homechurch fellowship groups, much like the early days of the book of acts. I would like to have a better explanation of the parable of the unjust steward mentioned in luke 16. The strangest parable jesus ever told was about a man who cheats on his boss and is then praised for doing so see luke 16. Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to him to hear him. However, todays meditation i think helped to break thru, a bit. Only god has the power over men to dismiss them from life and custodianship of heavenly gifts, the very things clearly typified by the prerogatives enjoyed by this unjust steward.
Excerpt giving pooles commentary on the parable of the unjust steward. The parable of the unjust steward can be found in luke 16. The owner, the rich man was now assured that he would be paid by every debtor. There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. Understanding the parable of the unjust steward duration.
The parable of the unjust steward made simple luke 161. Then, just to show how corrupt people really are, even his master had to be impressed with his shrewd behavior. The parable of the shrewd manager or the unjust steward is puzzling. Perea parables of the unjust steward, rich man and lazarus luke 16. The commentaries and explanations that i have found have always left me feeling unsatisfied in my level of understanding. Verses 10 are no part of the narration but a discourse to which it gives rise. The unjust steward explaining a very confusing parable. Strangely, this parable seems to have jesus commending the dishonest steward for his dishonesty. A summary of this parable is that a rich man is about to fire his steward, the manager of his affairs. The lectionary gospel reading for today has the distinction to include one of jesus most difficult parables to interpret. Matthew henrys concise commentary on the bible is available in the public. Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward. The first section uses one single parable with two applications. How is it that an unfaithful steward, about to be relieved of his position, gains praise from his employer when he ends his career stealing more from him.
An analysis of the unjust, dishonest steward parable taught by jesus based on the cultural norms of the time. The parable of the shrewd manager, or as it is sometimes called, the parable of the unjust steward. I have wondered many times why the savior ever gave it. The parable of the unjust steward or parable of the penitent steward is a parable of jesus. Pliny and the kerygma petrou graham stanton righteousness in matthews theology donald a. In the book of luke is one of yeshuas parables that have had many people scratching their head wondering what this parable is trying to teach. David flusser, in a book titled jesus and the dead sea scrolls, has taken the. Includes lesson materials for primary 38 years, junior 911 years, intermediate 1214 years, senior 1517 years and adults. In the book of luke is one of yeshuas parables that have had many people. But he could not deny that the steward was shrewd enough. There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was a wasting his goods. Many find this parable confusing because of the praise of the lord in verse 8. Discover the meaning of the parable of the unjust steward.
And the pharisees and scribes complained, saying, this man receives sinners and eats with them. The pharisees and the scribes could not match jesus. F6 objections to this view derive from a failure to understand why the rich man commended the unjust steward. The manager unjust steward had the unique ability to kill two birds with one stone in other words to put the bills and agreements in order, by making the debtors happy to pay a lesser amount. And i say to you, make to yourselves friends of the unjust mammon, that, when you shall fail, they may receive you into eternal habitations. And the lord commended the unjust steward, forasmuch as he had done wisely. What is the meaning of the parable of the unjust steward shrewd manager dishonest manager in luke 16. This is why luke describes in great detail the incarnation of the son of god, his birth, his childhood, his obedience towards. The unjust steward is not set before us as an example in cheating his master.
Luke 16 commentary the parable of the unjust steward. So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. Click download or read online button to get interpretation of the parable of the unjust steward book now. Our lord reproves them, and shows the immutability of the law, luke 16. Verse one reveals that someone told the rich man that his manager was being dishonest with his. This verse is from the gospel of luke and it is titled the parable of the unjust steward. An historical, exegetical and contextual study of the parable of the unjust steward in luke 16.
No one, who has seriously considered, will underrate the difficulties of this. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get. He was so successful in the lord, that one of the books in the bible was. Read matthew pooles explanation of these wellknown verses and then compare it with three other great expositions that weve posted. The unjust steward is, beyond question, the hardest of all our lords parables, if we may argue from the number and variety of meanings set upon it. The unjust steward is commended by his master for his shrewdness. It would be well if the children of light would learn wisdom from the men of the world, and would as earnestly pursue their better object. What is the meaning of the parable of the unjust steward luke 16.
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