The Unjust Stewart

“Believe” in Matthew, Mark & Luke - Part 22:

Part 1 of the Unjust Steward:

We've studied 20 of the 25 instances in Matthew, Mark and Luke where Jesus is recorded as having uttered the Greek word pisteuo; usually translated “believe”. Today this word brings us to Luke 16, a very unique chapter in the Bible. Unique for several reasons: the parable Jesus taught His Disciples in verses 1 - 13 appears to teach that the conduct of an unjust Stewart was praised by the owner; the story Jesus told about the rich man and Lazarus in verses 14 - 31 is the most detailed and vivid picture in the Bible of life after death; these two incidents are recorded only here in Luke, no where else in the Bible; and this is the only instance out of the 35 times the Greek “pisteuo” is found in Matthew, Mark and Luke (25 when uttered by Jesus) where it is translated with a word/s other than “believe”. In Luke 16:1111 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

it is translated “commit to trust” in the King James and “trust” in both the NIV and NIrV versions.

Luke 16:1 - 131 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

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.

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?

13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

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.

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?

13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

: “And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. (2) And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. (3) Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. (4) I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. (5) So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? (6) And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. (7) Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. (8) And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. (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. (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? (13) No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Luke 16:1 - 13.

A parable can be defined as a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson and Jesus told this parable, verses 1 - 8, to His disciples while Pharisees were listening. Therefore, this story sent two messages; one, to His disciples about their conduct in preparation for the Kingdom to come, verses 9 - 13, and two, it condemned the Pharisees for their conduct, verses 14 - 18. Today's study will deal with Jesus' lesson to His disciples in verses 9 - 13.

First, it should be noted that the unjust steward's actions were legal, even if it seems strange the lord commended him for what amounted misappropriation, Luke 16:88 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

a. The steward here refers to an agent or general manager given the authority to operate an owner's business. Even today it's not unusual for an owner to contract with a manager, giving him/her near total control over their operation. Such arrangements are usually governed by a contract binding the parties for a period of time or for as long as contractual terms are met. Example; the owner of a National Football League team contracts with a Head Coach (a steward or agent) giving him carte blanche to run the team. This arrangement turns out well if the Coach is savvy and wins games. However, the owner becomes unhappy if the team consistently looses and the only way the owner can get rid of the loosing coach is to pay off the rest of his contract. I've dealt with cases involving various types of business where owners gave managers a great deal of authority over operations only to have the managers help themselves to the profits in some way the owner did not foresee. However, since the owner actually gave the manager total authority in the business, his only recourse was to end the contract in order to get rid of the thief he hired.

In verse 8, after Jesus said “the lord (rich man) commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely;” He makes the observation “for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” First we must ask just who the rich man and the unjust steward represent in this parable. I submit that the rich man cannot represent God in heaven, nor does the unjust steward represent a disciple of Christ for if they did then this parable would be totally contrary to Jesus' other teachings about how His disciples should conduct themselves. So, they represent secular rich men and stewards, men of this world, not Disciples of Christ. The rich man in this parable recognized the wisdom or business acumen of the steward and probably would have done the same thing himself if he were in the steward's place. This is borne out in the last part of the verse: “for the children of this world are in their generation (put another way this refers to those who are living for the present things of this world) wiser than the children of light (men/women illuminated from above)”, Luke 16:8b. Jesus was teaching here that unbelievers are much more assiduous in their worldly dealings than Disciples of Christ, those enlightened by the Holy Spirit, are in their dealings concerning heavenly things.

Jesus' lesson to His disciples (believing Jews being prepared for God's Heavenly Kingdom on earth) is found in verse 9: “And I say unto you, make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness.” Mammon here is money or possessions and reference to it as the mammon of unrighteousness names it as the object of unrighteousness. Money itself is not evil in and of itself, it is the love of money or possessions that is root of all evil, 1 Timothy 6:1010 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

. So when the disciples are exhorted to make themselves “friends of the mammon of unrighteousness” they are being told to do good things with their money. The passage goes on to read: “that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.” Luke 16:99 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.

. They were being instructed to become friendly with earthly money or goods, or, put in other words, they were told to use their wealth in preparation for God's everlasting Kingdom.

The big problem many people have with this and other similar passages is failures to recognize that Jesus' teachings during His earthly ministry were directed to Israel to prepare them for His earthly Kingdom. Israel was promised this Kingdom back in the Old Testament (See Faith Studies Vol 3, No 26, 27 & 34 for the promises God gave Israel, which are yet unfulfilled). During His earthly ministry Jesus consistently demonstrated and taught His disciples to depend on God and nothing else for all their needs. He taught about the deceitfulness of riches, Matthew 13:2222 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

; Mark 4:1919 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

; Luke 8:1414 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

. When the rich ruler came to Him claiming he had kept the Commandments of the Law and asked what he had to do have eternal life Jesus told him he lacked only one thing; he had to sell all his possessions, distribute his riches to the poor and follow Jesus and in doing so he would have treasure in heaven, Mark 10:2121 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

& Luke 18:2222 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

. The man left this encounter dejected because he possessed great wealth, Mark 10:2222 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

& Luke 18:2323 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

. Jesus recognized his sadness and announced that those who have riches on this earth cannot enter into the Kingdom as it will be easier for a Camel to go through he eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God, Mark 10:23 - 2523 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

; Luke 18:24 & 2524 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

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These words of Jesus were not allegorical. They were literal, and this is plainly demonstrated when Israel was actually offered the Kingdom during the period of time recorded in the first part of Acts. After His death, burial and resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ showed Himself to His Apostles for 40 days and taught them about things pertaining to the Kingdom of God, Acts 1:2 & 32 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

. When asked if He was going to restore the Kingdom to Israel at that time, Acts 1:66 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

, He answered that only God knew when that would happen but that they were to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to preach the Kingdom message, Acts 1:7 & 87 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

. He then ascended into Heaven, Acts 1:99 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

. In the second chapter of Acts we find that devout Jews from all over the known world had come to celebrate Pentecost and were filled with the Holy Spirit, allowing them to understand each other in their own language. A crowd gathered and Peter preached Jesus Christ as their Messiah and told them this was the fulfillment of what the prophet Joel had spoken, Joel 2:28 & 2928 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

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The point to be made here is the conduct of those true believing Jews (Disciples of Christ) in Jerusalem, i.e., what they did to prepare for the Kingdom of God on earth. They were baptized and had received the gift of the Holy Spirit, which enabled them to fulfill the requirements Jesus had laid down to qualify to enter the Kingdom. They all, regardless of how rich or poor they were, sold everything they had and gave all the proceeds to a common treasury from which everyone in the group lived on, Acts 2:44 & 4544 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

. As Jesus had taught, they had a choice to either serve God or Mammon, the things of this world, and they chose to serve God, Luke 16:1313 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

. (Space for this study has run out so this will be continued.)