THE SHREWD STEWARD/ MANAGER - Luke
16:1-18
By Tuese Ahkiong
LUKE 16:1-18 NASB
Now He was also saying TO
THE DISCIPLES, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and
this manager was reported to him as squandering HIS POSSESSIONS. 2 And he called him and
said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an accounting of your
management, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3 The
manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the
management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to
beg. 4 I know what I shall do, so that when I am
removed from the management PEOPLE WILL WELCOME ME INTO THEIR HOMES.’ 5 And
he summoned each one of his master’s debtors, and he began saying
to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 And
he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill,
and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he
said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ And he said, ‘A
hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write
eighty.’
8And his master praised the unrighteous
manager because he had acted shrewdly;
for THE SONS OF THIS AGE are
more shrewd in relation to their own kind than THE SONS OF
LIGHT. 9 And I say to YOU, make
friends for yourselves by means of the WEALTH OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS,
so that when it fails, THEY WILL RECEIVE YOU into THE
ETERNAL DWELLINGS.
10 “He who is faithful in a
very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very
little thing is unrighteous also in much. 11 Therefore
if YOU have not been faithful in the use of UNRIGHTEOUS WEALTH, who
will ENTRUST THE TRUE RICHES to YOU? 12 And
if YOU have not been faithful in the use of that
which is another’s, who will give YOU that which is
your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters;
for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted
to one and despise the other. YOU cannot serve God
and wealth.”
14 Now the PHARISEES,
who were LOVERS OF MONEY, were listening to all these things
and were scoffing at Him. 15 And He said to
them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men,
but God knows your hearts; FOR THAT WHICH IS HIGHLY ESTEEMED
AMONG MEN IS DETESTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.
16 “THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS were PROCLAIMED UNTIL JOHN; since that
time THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS BEEN PREACHED, and
everyone is FORCING HIS WAY INTO IT. 17 BUT
IT IS EASIER FOR HEAVEN AND EARTH TO PASS AWAY than
for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail.
18 “Everyone who DIVORCES his wife and
marries another COMMITS ADULTERY,
and he who marries one who is DIVORCED
from a husband COMMITS ADULTERY.
16:19-31 THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS
V1 YESHUA is speaking this parable TO
and FOR His disciples (v.1). They are the “YOU” in this
passage. Notice that the Pharisees were listening to Yeshua’s
parable, too, and scoffed. V14
The rich man is YHWH. The manager
is the Jews who had The Law and Covenant which they squandered.
V4 The shrewd manager gains the favor of his
boss’s clients by cutting their bills down.
V8 The
master praised the unrighteous manager because he acted shrewdly. The parable
stops at the semi-colon (;). Christ then compares “The sons of THIS
AGE” with the “Sons of Light.” “The sons of THIS AGE” are the Jews. Christ
was born under the law (Gal 4:4), the old covenant age which is the “this age”
used in the NT.
“The
sons of Light” are the sons of God, Christians, the new covenant age people,
the new creation of God who shine God’s glory as the light of the world
(see Daniel 12:3, Matthew 5:14,16;
Matthew 13:43; John 12:36, Philippians 2:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:5). The presence of
the sons of God means the promised New Covenant is breaking in and the Old
Covenant is going out.
“The sons of this age,” the OC Jews are more
keen, sharp, wiser with their own kind, other OC Jews.
V9 Christ says to “YOU,” His disciples in the
1stst century, to make friends for yourselves by the wealth of
unrighteousness. “The wealth of unrighteousness” was the money,
riches, covenant position of the Jews of being UNDER THE LAW.
The Jewish Christians sold their land
inheritance (Acts 2:43-47, 4:36-37) in Jerusalem was a scandalous act because
it was never to be sold permanently (Lev 25:23). They heard the teaching of
Yeshua that Jerusalem would be destroyed in that “this generation,” which meant
the property values were not going to be very good for long, to say it lightly
(Matt 24:1-34), so they sold. They gave the monies to the Apostles
for the needs of the new covenant people of God, The ekklesia.
“So that when it fails” equates to the Jewish
money, riches, covenant position of being under THE LAW failed in its 70 A.D.
destruction by ending. The 1st century Christian
saints are received into the New Covenant house of God, His eternal dwelling,
His heavenly tabernacle, The Body of Christ and by the friends that died before
them.
Christians were making friends like Paul during
his time of ministering under the law:
1 Corinthians 9:20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.
1 Corinthians 9:20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.
V10 Faithful Stewardship vs. Unfaithful
Stewardship. Israel of NT times was unfaithful in her stewardship so much
so that they murdered their Messiah.
V11 Stewarding UNRIGHTEOUS WEALTH (The Law, monies
for food that perishes) for physical needs of the saints;
Being ENTRUSTED The True Riches, The
Gospel. See Acts 6:1-6 In which 7 men are ENTRUSTED to feed
widows. In order to wait on tables they needed to have a good
reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom.
V12 Christ is speaking to His disciples of
faithful stewardship.
V13 Christ states that a servant's allegiance
is to one master. The Pharisees allegiance was demonstrated by their
love and service to money. The Christian’s allegiance is to Christ.
V14 The Pharisees were lovers of money and
their position of YHWH’s covenant people. They were listening to
Yeshua’s conversation and parable.
V15 Christ said to the Pharisees basically
that they are men pleasers who are concerned more about how they appear before
man than God. God knows their darkened hearts loved money and their
high honored position of being YHWH’s covenant people who were supposed to be a
light to the world.
V16 The Law and the Prophets are The Old
Covenant and its promises. They were proclaimed until
John. John’s ministry as Elijah proclaimed the coming day of The
Lord in judgment upon his hearers in which the Old Covenant would end. The
Old Covenant officially ended in 70 A.D. when Christ came in judgment upon
it.
The Gospel of the Kingdom has been preached
to The Old Covenant world before its end (Matt 24:14). Everyone is
forcing his way into because judgment was coming.
V17 It’s easier for heaven and earth to pass
away than for one stroke of the letter of the law to fail. Heaven and earth is
The Old Covenant Age and was easier to pass away but the seriousness of God’s
Law needed to be fulfilled.
Matthew 5:17-18 “Do not think that I came
to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but TO FULFILL. 18 For
truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the
smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law UNTIL ALL IS ACCOMPLISHED.
-Noticed how Yeshua says that truly, until
heaven and earth had to pass away first, not the smallest stroke shall pass
from the Law, until all s accomplished.
See my article: “We are in new heavens and
earth now.”
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
See my article “The end of the age, the age to come…”
V18 This verse seems to be thrown in here out
of context unless one understands what is happening. God ending the
heavens and earth of the old covenant world/age is likened to divorce.
God divorced Israel and remarried Israel as an act of His grace. He
took her out of the covenant of death and brought into the covenant of life.
See my article: “God is Divorced”
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1.
SONS OF LIGHT
2.
Daniel 12:1-7“At that time shall arise Michael, the great
prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble,
such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that
time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written
in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of
the earth shall AWAKE, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and
everlasting contempt. 3 AND THOSE WHO ARE WISE SHALL SHINE LIKE
THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE SKY ABOVE; AND THOSE WHO TURN MANY TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, LIKE
THE STARS FOREVER AND EVER. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words
and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to
and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
3.
5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two
others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the
stream. 6 And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who
was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end
of these wonders?” 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above
the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward
heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times,
and half a time, and that WHEN THE SHATTERING OF THE POWER OF THE HOLY
PEOPLE COMES TO AN END ALL THESE THINGS WOULD BE FINISHED.
4.
***The Jews were the Holy People of God within the
context of Daniel. The resurrection mentioned here takes place when the
power of the holy people was shattered. Their covenant with God
symbolized by The Temple was the power of the holy people. The
destruction of Jerusalem took place in 70 A.D. as Jesus said it would happen
within “this generation” 1st century was when that power came to an end.
5. ***Notice how the following passages FULFILL Daniel 12:3
and also identifies Christians as Sons of Light
6.
Matthew 5:14-16 “YOU
ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a
lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light
to all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, LET YOUR
LIGHT SHINE BEFORE OTHERS, so that they may see your
good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
7.
Matthew 13:43 THEN THE RIGHTEOUS
WILL SHINE LIKE THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father.
He who has ears, let him hear.
8.
John 12:36 While you have the Light, believe in the
Light, so that YOU MAY BECOME SONS OF LIGHT.” These
things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.
9.
Philippians 2:14-18 Do all things
without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless
and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and
twisted generation, AMONG WHOM YOU SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD,
16 HOLDING FAST TO THE WORD OF LIFE, SO THAT IN THE DAY OF CHRIST I may
be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even
if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of
your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise
you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
10.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 for you are all SONS OF LIGHT AND
SONS OF DAY. We are not of night nor of darkness;
11.
PROPERTY VERSES
12. Leviticus 25:23 ‘THE LAND, MOREOVER, SHALL
NOT BE SOLD PERMANENTLY, for the land is Mine; for you are but aliens
and sojourners with Me.
13. Acts 2:43-47 Everyone kept
feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place
through the apostles. 44 And all those who had
believed were together and had all things in common; 45 AND
THEY BEGAN SELLING THEIR PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS AND WERE
SHARING THEM WITH ALL, AS ANYONE MIGHT HAVE NEED. 46 Day
by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking
bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with
gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising
God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was
adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
14. Acts 4:36-37 Now Joseph, a
Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles
(which translated means Son of Encouragement), 37 and WHO
OWNED A TRACT OF LAND, SOLD IT AND BROUGHT THE MONEY AND LAID IT AT THE
APOSTLES’ FEET.
15.
CHRISTIANS ARE THE NEW TEMPLE, THE NEW
DWELLING OF GOD IN THE HEAVENLY, ETERNAL DWELLING
16. John 14:2 IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE ARE
MANY DWELLING PLACES; if it were not so, I would have told
you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
17.
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus
from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the
dead will also give life to your mortal bodies THROUGH HIS SPIRIT
WHO DWELLS IN YOU.
18.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that YOU
ARE A TEMPLE OF GOD and that the Spirit of
God dwells in you?
19. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Or what agreement has the
temple of God with idols? For WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD;
just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK
AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
20. Ephesians 2:6 and raised us up with
Him, and SEATED US WITH HIM IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES in Christ
Jesus,
21. Ephesians 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and
aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of GOD’S HOUSEHOLD,
22. Ephesians 2:22 in whom YOU ALSO ARE BEING BUILT
TOGETHER INTO A DWELLING OF GOD in the Spirit.
Hebrews 8:1-2 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 A MINISTER IN THE SANCTUARY AND IN THE TRUE TABERNACLE, WHICH THE LORD PITCHED, not man.
Hebrews 8:1-2 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 A MINISTER IN THE SANCTUARY AND IN THE TRUE TABERNACLE, WHICH THE LORD PITCHED, not man.
23. 1 Peter 2:5 YOU ALSO, AS LIVING STONES, ARE
BEING BUILT UP AS A SPIRITUAL HOUSE for a holy priesthood,
to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through
Jesus Christ.
24. Revelation 7:15 For this reason, they are before the throne
of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and HE WHO
SITS ON THE THRONE WILL SPREAD HIS TABERNACLE OVER THEM.
25. Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne,
saying, “Behold, THE TABERNACLE OF GOD IS AMONG MEN, AND HE
WILL DWELL AMONG THEM, and they shall be His people,
and GOD HIMSELF WILL BE AMONG THEM,
26.
THEY, THE FRIENDS, WILL RECEIVE YOU
27. 1 Thessalonians
4:13-18 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren,
about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the
rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those
who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this
we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and
remain until the coming of the Lord, WILL NOT
PRECEDE THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP. 16 For
the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God,
and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 THEN WE
WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN WILL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN
THE CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR, and so we shall
always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort
one another with these words.
28. 1 Thessalonians 2:20 For YOU (the Thessalonian
Christians) ARE OUR GLORY AND JOY.
29.
THE APOSTLES WERE ENTRUSTED WITH THE GOSPEL, THE MINISTRY
OF THE WORD
30. Acts 6 Now at this time while
the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint
arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against
the native Hebrews, because their widows were being
overlooked in the daily serving of food. 2 So
the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not
desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3 THEREFORE, BRETHREN,
SELECT FROM AMONG YOU SEVEN MEN OF GOOD REPUTATION, FULL OF THE SPIRIT AND OF
WISDOM, WHOM WE MAY PUT IN CHARGE OF THIS TASK. 4 But WE
WILL DEVOTE OURSELVES TO PRAYER AND TO THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD.” 5 The
statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they
chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,
and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte
from Antioch. 6 And these they brought before
the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.
31.
Romans 3:2 Great in every respect. First of all, that
they were ENTRUSTED with the oracles of God.
32.
***The Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
33.
1 Corinthians 9:17 For if I do this voluntarily,
I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship ENTRUSTED to
me.
34.
Galatians 2:7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had
been ENTRUSTED with the gospel to the uncircumcised,
just as Peter had been to the circumcised
35.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 but just as we have been
approved by God to be ENTRUSTED with the gospel, so we
speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.
36.
1 Timothy 1:11 according to the glorious gospel of the
blessed God, with which I have been ENTRUSTED.
37.
1 Timothy 1:18 This command I ENTRUST to
you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies
previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,
38.
1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, GUARD what
has been ENTRUSTED to you, avoiding worldly and empty
chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called
“knowledge”—
39.
2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things,
but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that
He is able to GUARD what I have ENTRUSTED to
Him until that day.
40.
2 Timothy 1:14 GUARD, through the Holy Spirit
who dwells in us, THE TREASURE which has been ENTRUSTED to you.
41.
2 Timothy 2:2 The things which you have heard from me in
the presence of many witnesses, ENTRUST these to
faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
42.
Titus 1:3 but at the proper time manifested, even His
word, in the proclamation with which I was ENTRUSTED according
to the commandment of God our Savior,
43.
Acts 20:28 Be on GUARD for
yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
44. WORK FOR FOOD WHICH ENDURES TO ETERNAL LIFE
45.
John 6:27 Do not work for THE FOOD
WHICH PERISHES, but for THE FOOD WHICH ENDURES TO
ETERNAL LIFE, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him
the Father, God, has set His seal.”
46. JOHN, THE BAPTIST IS ELIJAH
47. Malachi 4:5-6 BEHOLD, I AM GOING TO SEND
YOU ELIJAH THE PROPHET BEFORE THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF
THE LORD. 6 He will restore the
hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the
children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with
acurse.”
48. Joel 2:29-31 “Even on the male and
female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 30 “I
will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, Blood, fire and
columns of smoke. 31 “The sun will be turned
into darkness And the moon into blood
49. Matthew 3:7-12 7 But when he saw many of
the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them,
“You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from THE WRATH TO
COME? 8 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with
repentance; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to
yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these
stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 10 The axe
is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does
not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.11 “As
for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming
after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He
will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing
fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He
will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff
with unquenchable fire.”
50. Matthew 11:14 And if you are willing to accept it, JOHN HIMSELF IS ELIJAH WHO
WAS TO COME.
HOW TO SURVIVE THE END OF A WORLD, Jonathan Pageau
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