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The Dishonest Manager (Steward,)

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by taisto, Sep 4, 2023.

  1. taisto

    taisto Well-Known Member

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    Why does Jesus give a parable to his disciples about a dishonest steward? What point is He making to his disciples?

    "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. 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.’ 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. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measuresof oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measuresof wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this worldare more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. 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. “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. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 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)
     
  2. 37818

    37818 Well-Known Member

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    This teaching, Jesus to His disciples was no parable. Luke 16:8-13,". . . 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. 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. 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. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? 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. . . ."
     
  3. taisto

    taisto Well-Known Member

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    Luke 15 is the parable of the Prodigal Son. At the beginning of 16 Luke writes "He also said to the disciples," which indicates this is a continuation and parable given to his disciples.

    Who is "the lord" in this message to his disciples?
     
  4. 37818

    37818 Well-Known Member

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    Luke 8:10, ". . . And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; . . ." At Luke 16:1 Jesus switch to teaching His disciples.
     
  5. taisto

    taisto Well-Known Member

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    When we look at Matthew 13 we see that Jesus uses both when teaching His disciples. Notice Jesus interaction with his disciples and how he gives them parables as well.
    Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.
    (Matthew 13:51-52)
    Do you see the parable?

    In any case, Jesus is teaching his disciples in Luke 16:1-13 (whether you call it a parable or not). He tells them a story about a dishonest manager who was squandering the masters money. What is Jesus teaching his disciples by sharing about a dishonest person who is only concerned with himself?
    Also note (vs 14) that the Pharisees were listening in.
    "Jesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money. So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired.’ “The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg. Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.’ “So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe him?’ The man replied, ‘I owe him 800 gallons of olive oil.’ So the manager told him, ‘Take the bill and quickly change it to 400 gallons.’ “‘And how much do you owe my employer?’ he asked the next man. ‘I owe him 1,000 bushels of wheat,’ was the reply. ‘Here,’ the manager said, ‘take the bill and change it to 800 bushels.’ “The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light. Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
    (Luke 16:1-13)
     
  6. 37818

    37818 Well-Known Member

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    Matthew 13 Jesus was teaching parables. His disciples always heard the
    parables.

    Most of readers.and Bible teaches believe all of Luke 16 to be parables.

    Thought many take exception with Luke, 16:19 to not be a parable.

    I am of the persuasion all of Luke 16 are not parables.
     
    #6 37818, Sep 4, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2023
  7. taisto

    taisto Well-Known Member

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    In my question, I find your distinction irrelevant.
    What is Jesus teaching His disciples?
     
  8. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
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    I agree, the discussion of whether something is or is not a parable, including a lack of a clear definition of what a parable can be, i.e. an actual factual account used to illustrate a spiritual reality, changes the topic of the thread.

    But these nitpick defections are commonly used to derail discussion of biblical truths.

    Luke 16:10 - 13 NET
    "The one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you haven't been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will entrust you with the true riches? And if you haven't been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you your own? 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."​

    Here (in the above quote) is the explanation of the account. If we treat others with a lack of integrity, we will treat God with a lack of integrity. If we say "Lord, Lord" but still rule our own roost, would God entrust us with His kingdom? The answer of course is NO!

    Lip service faith avails nothing. Most of us, perhaps all of us, will not succeed in going "all in" for Christ, but if we do not commit to striving as best we can to follow Christ no matter where He leads, our faith would seem to be very much like the second and third soils.
     
  9. taisto

    taisto Well-Known Member

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    How do you come to this instructional view when the whole teaching Jesus does is about the use of money? How do you put faith into this passage? (This is a curious question, not an accusation that your understanding is wrong.)
     
  10. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
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    Note the contrast of the one who is faithful with the one who is dishonest. If you are not trustworthy handling worldly treasure (money) you will not be trustworthy handing spiritual treasure (the blessing offered by God).

    Another "whole teaching" is to remain faithful to God and not commit "adultery," not being faithful in love.

    But in summary, the bottom line is the same, we are to love God with all our heart, all our mind and all our soul. See Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30 and Luke 10:27. You cannot serve two masters.
     
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