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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Please explain this passage | Luke 16:1 | cmsautter@aol.com | 132187 | ||
Please explain this passage | ||||||
2 | Please explain this passage | Luke 16:1 | alienresident | 132202 | ||
The lesson to be drawn from the illustration is stated in verses 9-13. The steward is commended, not for his unrighteousness, but for his practical wisdom. The steward was placed in charge of the affairs of his master; it was a position of great trust. (Ge 24:2; 39:4) In Jesus’ illustration, the steward’s being dismissed meant that he was being sent out of the house, with no means of support. His lowering of the debts of his master’s debtors brought him no money but was done to win friends who might favor him in the future. One hundred bath measures of oil equaled 2,200 L (581 gal), and 100 cor measures of wheat came to 22,000 L (625 bu). The steward is within his rights in reducing the bills owed to his master, since he is still in charge of his master’s financial affairs. So by reducing the amounts, he is making friends with those who can return him favors when he loses his job. When the master hears what has happened, he is impressed. In fact, he “commended the steward, though unrighteous, because he acted shrewdly.” Indeed, Jesus adds: “The people of this world are more shrewd (wiser in a practical way) toward their own generation than the sons of the light are.” Now, drawing the lesson for his disciples, Jesus encourages: “Make friends for yourselves by means of the worldly riches, so that, when such fail, they may receive you into the everlasting dwelling places.” Jesus is not commending the steward for his unrighteousness but for his farsighted, practical wisdom. Often “people of this world” shrewdly use their money or position to make friends with those who can return them favors. So God’s servants, “the sons of the light,” also need to use their material assets, their “unrighteous riches,” in a wise way to benefit themselves. But as Jesus says, they should make friends by means of these riches with those who may receive them “into the everlasting dwelling places,” eternal life in Paradise. Since only God and his Son can receive persons into these places, we should be diligent in using any “worldly riches” we may have to support Kingdom interests and thus cultivate friendship with them. Then, when material riches fail or perish, as they surely will, our everlasting future will be assured. Jesus goes on to say that persons faithful in caring for even these material, or least, things will also be faithful in caring for matters of greater importance. “Therefore,” he continued, “if you have not proved yourselves faithful in connection with the worldly riches, who will entrust you with what is true, [that is, spiritual, or Kingdom, interests]? And if you have not proved yourselves faithful in connection with what is another’s [the Kingdom interests with which God entrusts his servants], who will give you what is for yourselves [the reward of life in everlasting dwelling places]?” We simply cannot be true servants of God and at the same time be slaves to unrighteous riches, material riches, as Jesus concludes: “No house servant can be a slave to two masters; for, either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves to God and to riches.” Luke 15:1, 2; 16:1-13. |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Luke 16:1 | Author | ||
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Kathy1349 | ||
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Jacoba | ||
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mzkitty | ||
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cmsautter@aol.com | ||
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alienresident | ||
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JIM BATTLES | ||
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Bela | ||
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son of god |