Seder 74: Luke 16:1-9---Parable of the Shrewd Manager

 The parable in Luke 16:1-13, known variously as the parable of the unjust steward/dishonest manager/shrewd manager, is one of the most puzzling of Jesus' parables.  As I noted in an article I wrote in 2004, 

"Ostensibly the parable tells the story of a steward who, when accused of financial malfeasance, wastes even more funds in an attempt to ingratiate himself with his employer's clients.  The steward is then, inexplicably, commended by his employer.  Finally, disciples of Jesus are encouraged to emulate the steward's example."

In my article I concluded that to understand the parable, we need to realize that for the employer, it was "not about the money."  When it became common knowledge that the manager was cheating his employer, the employer was dishonored by being made to look stupid.  

But when the manager reduced the amounts of the bills owed to the employer, the manager made the employer look generous in the eyes of his clients.  Now the employer was the "generous employer" rather than the "employer who could not control his employees."  The employer had plenty of money and cared more about his reputation than about the total extent of his holdings, so he was now pleased with his manager.  

Similarly, disciples of Jesus will be commended by their Master if they bring honor to him.  

In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on October 9, 2021, Kyle Kettering came to a similar conclusion about the interpretation of the parable.  He also brought up a detail that I did not bring up explicitly in my article:  the possibility that the phrase "sons of light" in Luke 16:8 is a reference to the Qumran sect, who called themselves sons of light.  Kyle explained that the group at Qumran had withdrawn from society and tended to keep their assets to themselves.  A better approach would be to use those assets to help others.  Fruitful, responsible use of the resources God gives us now will lead to further responsibilities in the world to come.