The Parable of the Unjust Manager

The Parable of the Unjust Manager, found in Luke 16:1-13, is a complex and challenging passage that has been the subject of much scholarly debate and interpretation over the centuries. On the surface, the parable commends the dishonest actions of a corrupt steward, which can be puzzling and even troubling to the modern reader. However, when examined within its proper context and through a careful exegetical analysis, this parable emerges as a profound teaching on the nature of faithful stewardship and the priority of the Kingdom of God.

In this in-depth study, we will explore the parable's historical and literary context, examine its key details and underlying themes, and unpack the broader theological implications that Jesus intends to convey to his disciples and the Pharisees. By doing so, we will gain a deeper understanding of the parable's message, its relevance for Christian discipleship, and the stewardship of all God has entrusted to us.

The Historical and Literary Context

To fully appreciate the Parable of the Unjust Manager, it is essential to consider its broader context. The parable is found within the larger narrative of Luke's Gospel, which presents a comprehensive account of Jesus Christ's life, ministry, and teachings.

Immediately preceding the parable, Jesus had been teaching a series of parables in Luke 15, addressing the Pharisees' criticism of his association with tax collectors and sinners. These parables – the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son – all emphasized God's gracious and relentless pursuit of the lost, in contrast to the Pharisees' self-righteous exclusivism.

The Parable of the Unjust Manager is then introduced with the phrase "He also said to the disciples" (Luke 16:1), suggesting a shift in Jesus' audience and a continuation of his teaching. However, as we shall see, the Pharisees remain an essential part of the context, as they are once again mentioned as the ones who "heard all these things and ridiculed him" (Luke 16:14).

Within this broader context, the Parable of the Unjust Manager can be understood as a further exploration of stewardship, the use of wealth, and the proper ordering of one's priorities – themes already present in the preceding parables. By examining the parable itself, we can begin to unpack the specific lessons Jesus intended to convey to his disciples and the Pharisees.

The Parable Itself: A Closer Look

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. Luke 16:1-13 (ESV)

The parable begins with a rich man discovering that his manager (or steward) has been mismanaging his possessions. In response, the rich man dismisses the manager (Luke 16:1-2). This response sets the stage for the central action of the parable, as the manager, faced with the imminent loss of his position, devises a plan to ensure his future security.

The manager's actions are described as "shrewdness" (Luke 16:8) – a term with positive and negative connotations. On the one hand, the manager demonstrates a degree of resourcefulness and quick-thinking in the face of adversity. However, his methods are unethical, as he engages in fraudulent behavior by reducing the debts owed to his master to curry favor with the debtors (Luke 16:5-7).

Surprisingly, when the master discovers the manager's actions, he commends him for his shrewdness (Luke 16:8a). This unexpected response has puzzled many readers and interpreters over the centuries. How can the master, who has just discovered the manager's dishonesty, seemingly praise him for his wicked behavior?

The key to understanding this apparent contradiction lies in Jesus' interpretation and application of the parable, which follows immediately after narrating the events (Luke 16:8b-13). Here, Jesus draws a contrast between the "sons of this world" (unbelievers) and the "sons of light" (believers), stating that the former is "more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light" (Luke 16:8b).

The Parable's Theological Significance

The Parable of the Unjust Manager is not primarily about commending dishonest behavior but rather about highlighting the importance of wise and faithful stewardship in light of God's coming Kingdom. Jesus is not endorsing the manager's unethical actions but using them as a foil to illustrate a deeper spiritual truth.

1. The Nature of True Stewardship

At the heart of this parable is the issue of stewardship – the responsibility entrusted to us by God to manage faithfully all that He has provided. The rich man in the parable represents the ultimate Owner and Giver of all possessions, while the manager is a steward entrusted with the master's resources.

The parable suggests that the manager had been unfaithful in his stewardship, leading to his dismissal. However, when faced with the imminent loss of his position, the manager demonstrates a kind of shrewdness and resourcefulness that Jesus contrasts with the lack of such qualities among the "sons of light" – the disciples and, by extension, all believers.

Jesus is conveying the lesson that believers should be even more diligent and intentional in their stewardship of God's resources than unbelievers are in their pursuit of temporal, earthly matters. As the "sons of light," we are called to manage all that God has entrusted to us, our wealth, our time, our talents, and our influence, with a clear sense of purpose and a Kingdom-minded perspective.

2. The Use of Wealth

The parable also addresses the complex and often challenging issue of wealth and its proper use. The "unrighteous wealth" mentioned in Luke 16:9 does not refer to wealth acquired through unethical means but rather to the inherent tendency of earthly riches to corrupt and distract from the pursuit of eternal, spiritual realities.

Jesus encourages his disciples to use their wealth wisely, not for their selfish gain, but for "making friends" and securing eternal dwellings (Luke 16:9). This echoes his teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, where he exhorts his followers to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:20).

Thus, The parable challenges the Pharisees' love of money and their tendency to justify themselves before others (Luke 16:14-15), urging them and all believers to maintain a proper perspective on wealth and use it in service of the Kingdom of God.

3. The Primacy of the Kingdom

Ultimately, the Parable of the Unjust Manager is about priorities and the proper ordering of one's life. Jesus makes it clear that no one can serve two masters—"You cannot serve God and money" (Luke 16:13). The choice before the disciples and the Pharisees is a fundamental one: Will they pursue the things of this world, or will they seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)?

Though unrighteous, the shrewd manager in the parable demonstrates a level of urgency and intentionality in securing his future that Jesus contrasts with the often lackadaisical attitude of the "sons of light" toward the life to come. The parable, therefore, serves as a sobering call to action, challenging believers to be just as diligent and resourceful in pursuing eternal, spiritual realities as unbelievers are in pursuing temporal, earthly matters.

Implications for Christian Discipleship

The Parable of the Unjust Manager has profound implications for Christian discipleship and how we approach the stewardship of all God has entrusted to us. Here are a few key takeaways:

1. Faithful Stewardship: As followers of Christ, we are called to be faithful and diligent stewards of all that God has given us – our material possessions, our time, our talents, and our influence. We are to manage these resources with a clear sense of purpose and a Kingdom-minded perspective, always seeking to use them to serve God's will and expand His Kingdom.

2. Generosity and Kingdom-Mindedness: The parable encourages us to be generous with our wealth, not for the sake of earthly gain or personal security, but for "making friends" and securing eternal dwellings (Luke 16:9). This calls us to a radical reorientation of our priorities, where the things of this world are held loosely, and the eternal, spiritual realities of God's Kingdom become the primary focus of our lives.

3. Urgency and Intentionality: The parable challenges us to approach our spiritual lives with the same urgency and intentionality the unjust manager demonstrated in securing his earthly future. As "sons of light," we are called to be even more diligent and resourceful in pursuing the things of God than the "sons of this world" are in pursuing the things of this age.

4. Undivided Loyalty: The parable's final verse (Luke 16:13) clarifies that we cannot serve God and money. Our ultimate allegiance must be to the Kingdom of God and the pursuit of His righteousness. Any divided loyalties or attempts to serve both the temporal and the eternal will inevitably lead to compromise and weaken our spiritual lives.

Conclusion

The Parable of the Unjust Manager is a complex, challenging text that rewards careful study and reflection. Far from a simple moral lesson, this parable is a profound exploration of the nature of faithful stewardship, the proper use of wealth, and the primacy of the Kingdom of God in the believer's life.

As we engage with this parable, we are called to a radical reorientation of our priorities, where the things of this world are held in proper perspective, and the eternal, spiritual realities of God's Kingdom become the driving force of our lives. May we, as disciples of Christ, be found faithful and diligent in our stewardship, generous in our use of wealth, and unwavering in our pursuit of the Kingdom of God.