September 14, 2025
Luke 16:8–18 ESV
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. 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.” The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void. “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
Discussion Questions:
1) How do the lessons of these verses apply to those who heard the parable at the first advent?
2) How do the lessons of these verses apply to Christians throughout the Gospel Age?
Discussion Summary:
The verses following the parable act as a commentary on the parable. The parable was originally intended for the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. They were to compare their own feelings and behaviour to the unjust manager and realize that unlike the manager that were not shrewd enough to correct their actions. Verses 9-14 point out that one of the problems hindering this correction was their love of money. In Matthew 19:21 Jesus advises the rich ruler who wanted to follow him to “sell all that you have and feed the poor.” This he was unable to do and went away sorrowful. Verses 15-18 point out that the time of their favored relationship with God was coming to an end. They would be held accountable to the Mosiac law which they claimed to be keeping, but were not. Jesus in his ministry showed how to keep both the letter and spirit of the law. In another picture to illustrate their legal obligations Jesus used the picture of marriage and divorce. They would be unable to enter into another covenant (marry another) until they first settled with the first covenant. The Apostle Paul expands on this in Romans 7:1-4.
For Christians today, the love of money continues to be a problem. Believers are told that they might think they are rich, but in God’s eyes they are poor, blind and naked (Revelation 3:14-18). The Apostle Paul expands on the proper way to view a believer’s wealth in 1 Timothy 6:17-19. Wealth should be a servant and not a master or director of our actions (1 Corinthians 13:3).
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