The Teachings of Jesus - the Unrighteous Steward
Text: Luke 16:1-15
The Occasion
The conversation is still likely taking place at the home of a Pharisee
Jesus addresses his disciples concerning the accumulation and use of wealth
The Parable of the Unrighteous Servant
A man was a poor property manager
He was fired, but required to report on the accounts he managed
He renegotiates the accounts to gain favor with the debtors
His master praises his shrewd behavior
Understanding the Text
It seems strange that Jesus told a parable that commends a poor manager for shrewc (even dishonest) behavior.
BUT Jesus did not commend the unrighteous steward! The rich man in the parable was the one who praised the unprincipled manager.
Understanding the Truth
The parable shows the corruption of those who highly value and pursue the accumulation of wealth.
The rich man in the parable admires the unscrupulous behavior of his former manager even though it is diminishing his return
The rich man in the parable admires the unscrupulous
behavior of his former manager as a behavior worth
emulating
(Jesus is targeting the Pharisees for their love of wealth)
The Teaching of Jesus
Use your money to make friends so that they will help you when your finances are grim
How you handle the smaller things of life reflects how you will handle all the matters of life
No one can serve two masters
You cannot pursue wealth and God
The Response
The Pharisees were scoffing at Him because they were lovers of
money
The Rebuke
You justify yourselves to men, but God knows your heart
That which is highly regarded by men, is detestable to God
The Application
What are you pursuing?
What are your goals for 2020?
Why are these the things you choose to pursue?
SEEK FIRST
(primarily, exclusively, preeminently)
THE KINGDOM
(the glory)
OF GOD
Don’t kid yourself
YOU CANNOT
embrace the world and
pursue the things of the world and
gain the praise of the world
AND
Please God
FOR THE THINGS THAT THE WORLD FAVORS,
GOD HATES!