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!