7/29/2012
The Parables of Jesus
The Shrewd Steward
29 July, 2012
Andy Lewis
(Courtesy of www.BibleStudyMen.com)
A Closer Look
The Shrewd Steward
The Parable of the Shrewd Manager
Luke 16: 1‐9
Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his h
d f
ti hi
possessions.2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’
The Shrewd Steward
3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into yj
p p
their houses.’
5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
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The Shrewd Steward
6 “‘Nine hundred gallons
of olive oil,’ he replied.
“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’
7 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’
you owe?
“‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied.
“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’
The Shrewd Steward
Who is the audience for this parable? Luke 15:1‐2 ‐ Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus 2 But the Pharisees
Jesus.
But the Pharisees and the teachers of and the teachers of
the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
The Shrewd Steward
8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. p
p
g 9 I tell you, use worldly y
y
wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
The Shrewd Steward
• Jesus has been speaking to “tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, and teachers of the [Jewish] law.” (Luke 15:1)
• To
To this audience is now added disciples, this audience is now added disciples
probably meaning Jesus’ followers, not only the 12 apostles in Luke 16
Luke 16:1 ‐ Jesus told his disciples:…..
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The Shrewd Steward
The Shrewd Steward
• Literal Bible translations (KJV, NKJV, etc.) add the word “also” before disciples. • Who did the Rich Man’s creditors think was being generous to them? “And he said also unto his disciples...” • The Master at first
• Readers who don’t look at Luke 15:1‐3 can find the parable difficult, if not impossible, to understand.
• Perhaps later realize the Manager was being generous
• Context is important ! Saved / Unsaved
The Shrewd Steward
• Why would the shrewd manager gain from lowering the bills of his master’s creditors?
The Shrewd Steward
• After the manager lowered the bills, what choices did the master have?
• G
Good Public Relations for other potential d P bli R l ti
f
th
t ti l
employers
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• Revoke the reduction?
– Appears to take back gift
– Confirms he does not have control of his servants
The Shrewd Steward
• What does “shrewd” mean? • Is it bad to be shrewd?
• Live with the reduction?
Live with the reduction?
– Confirms their thoughts of generosity
– Keeps public image
The Shrewd Steward
• To be shrewd is to be …
– keen witted, – clever, or
– discerning in practical affairs. • The dictionary equates “shrewd” to “common sense.” The Shrewd Steward
• “Shrewdness” is not meant to be “bad”
• It is not associated with….
– being selfish
– stingy
– greedy
– hard hearted
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• What are some possible interpretations of this parable, especially Verses 8‐9?
• 8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly For
manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
The Shrewd Steward
The Shrewd Steward
• At one level the meaning of the parable is straightforward enough, and is provided by Jesus himself: “
“use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves.”
ldl
lth t
i fi d f
l
”
The Shrewd Steward
Many early church writers added…
• “You should use your advantages in this world to gain favor for yourself in the next. “
• “When, therefore, any one anticipating his end and his removal to the next world, lightens the burden of his sins by good deeds, either by canceling the obligations of debtors, or by supplying the poor with abundance. “
“By giving what belongs to the Lord, he gains many friends, who will attest his goodness before the Judge, and secure him by their testimony a place of happiness.” testimony a place of happiness.
Who secures what though which actions?????
Sola Scriptura—Scripture alone
the ‘clear interpreting the unclear’
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This expanded meaning not supported by other scripture. Our standing in heaven not based on works or our deeds… only those of Christ and his Grace towards us. The ‘clear
The clear interpreting the unclear
interpreting the unclear’
Ephesians 2:8‐9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
not by works, so that no one can boast.
The Shrewd Steward
The Shrewd Steward
So….. What are some other interpretations?
1) Equate dishonesty with being “streetwise.”
2) Right the wrong of improper interest
3) Eliminated his own commission.
4) Combination of Interest and Commission
5) Financial Loss but Improved Image for Both
6) Commending Motives not Methods
The Shrewd Steward
1) Equate dishonesty with being “streetwise.”
1) Equate dishonesty with being “streetwise.”
• The Message Bible Verses 8‐9 • Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law‐abiding citizens
“Now here’s a surprise: The Master praised the crooked Manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself.
– On constant alert
– looking for angles
– surviving by their wits
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The Shrewd Steward
1) Equate dishonesty with being “streetwise.”
2) Right the wrong of improper interest
• Jesus wants you to be smart in the same way—
but for what is right—
• to get around the Judaic prohibition against usury •
•
•
•
Using adversity to stimulate creative survival
Concentrate your attention on the bare essentials Let you Live Life Fully
Not complacently just get by on good behavior
The Shrewd Steward
Deut 23:19 19 Do not charge a fellow Israelite interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest
The Shrewd Steward
2) Right the wrong of improper interest
2) Right the wrong of improper interest
• to get around the Judaic prohibition against usury • The Manager thus might be reducing the loans to their original amount
– Records of a loan were sometimes inflated – A loan of four hundred gallons of oil might be written up as eight hundred
– The loan would then appear to be without interest
• Taking the High Road –
but still decreasing his Master’s profit
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3) Eliminated his own commission.
• Would not have affected the Master negatively
• It was the custom for a steward to take a commission on all sales of his Master’s goods as i i
ll l
f hi M t ’
d
this was his only means of making a salary
• In the present case the original loan was presumably 400 gallons of olive oil and 800 bushels of wheat
The Shrewd Steward
The Shrewd Steward
3) Eliminated his own commission.
• In reducing the debtors’ bills, he is not depriving his master of anything
• Sacrificing his own immediate interests by forgoing his legitimate commission
• It is for this that he is praised as ‘astute.’
The Shrewd Steward
4) Combination of Interest and Commission
4) Combination of Interest and Commission
• The Manager raised the price without the Master’s knowledge • Earns both …
• Now deducting the excess profits he himself had tacked onto their accounts
– Gratitude of the Debtors – Admiration of the Master
Ad i ti
f th M t
• The Master is not being cheated • The Master commends the manager’s shrewdness in getting in the good graces of the customers who owed the Master money
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The Shrewd Steward
5) Financial Loss but Improved Image for Both
6) Commending Motives not Methods
• improved the image of both
Master and Manager • Even a wicked manager has the foresight and ‘wisdom’ to plan ahead and look out for his own future
own future. • Equivalent of having a sale!
• He knows that his job is ending
• Prepares a path forward so he will be provided for and looked after by others. The Shrewd Steward
The Shrewd Steward
6) Commending Motives not Methods
• “Right” interpretation?
• Even the wicked can plan for their future in their selfish and narrow minded ways
• Depends upon where you are in your Christian life
• Parables are meant to apply to your life today
• Are you planning for your future? • Are you shrewd enough and clever enough, and do you have enough foresight to plan for the real future? (Vs 9 – Eternal Dwellings)
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The Shrewd Steward
• Is Jesus commending dishonesty? (16:8)
• Jesus clearly is not praising dishonesty. • Not saying that the ends justify the means.
• Manager’s Principle is the right one ….
• Even if he goes about it in the wrong way.
The Shrewd Steward
• The Master is Commending …
• Dishonest manager for his shrewdness
• Not the shrewd manager for his dishonesty
The Shrewd Steward
What is Jesus saying about (or to) “the children of the light?” Luke 16:8 ‐ “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly For the people of this world are shrewdly. For the people of this world
are
more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
Matthew 10:16 ‐ “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.” (NLT)
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• Even the crooks of the world know that money is a tool and not an end in itself, The Shrewd Steward
• Why is it so difficult to keep a proper perspective on money?
• Why can’t people of faith understand that?
• Use your resources, whatever they are, and even the resources of others, to benefit those in need
The Shrewd Steward
• Is there some way that God wants you to change the way you handle your resources? The Shrewd Steward
Single Word Summary
• What resources do you have that you can use to help people in need?
to help people in need?
PLAN
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Parables of Jesus
The Cost of Discipleship
• Next ……
•
•
•
•
•
•
Wedding Banquet
Prodigal Son
New Cloth / New Wine
Kingdom of Heaven
Master and Servant
Rich Man and Lazarus
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