View source for 169:2 Parable of the Shrewd Steward

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169:2.1 One evening [[Simon Zelotes]], commenting on one of [[Jesus]]' [[statements]], said: " Master, what did you mean when you said today that many of the [[children]] of the world are [[Wisdom|wiser]] in their [[generation]] than are the children of [[the kingdom]] since they are [[skillful]] in making [[friends]] with the [[mammon]] of unrighteousness? " [[Jesus]] answered:

169:2.2 " Some of you, before you entered [[the kingdom]], were very shrewd in dealing with your [[business]] [[associates]]. If you were unjust and often unfair, you were nonetheless [[prudent]] and farseeing in that you [[transacted]] your [[business]] with an eye single to your present [[profit]] and [[future]] [[safety]]. Likewise should you now so order your lives in [[the kingdom]] as to provide for your present [[joy]] while you also make certain of your [[future]] enjoyment of [[treasures]] laid up in [[heaven]]. If you were so [[diligent]] in making gains for yourselves when in the service of [[self]], why should you show less [[diligence]] in gaining [[souls]] for [[the kingdom]] since you are now servants of the brotherhood of man and [[steward]]s of [[God]]?

169:2.3 " You may all [[learn]] a lesson from the [[story]] of a certain [[rich]] man who had a shrewd but unjust steward. This [[steward]] had not only oppressed his master's clients for his own [[selfish]] gain, but he had also directly wasted and squandered his master's funds. When all this finally came to the ears of his master, he called the [[steward]] before him and asked the [[meaning]] of these [[rumors]] and required that he should give [[immediate]] [[accounting]] of his stewardship and [[prepare]] to turn his master's affairs over to another.[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_Luke#Chapter_16]

169:2.4 " Now this unfaithful [[steward]] began to say to himself: `What shall I do since I am about to lose this stewardship? I have not the [[strength]] to dig; to [[beg]] I am [[ashamed]]. I know what I will do to make certain that, when I am put out of this stewardship, I will be [[welcomed]] into the houses of all who do [[business]] with my master.' And then, calling in each of his lord's [[debt]]ors, he said to the first, `How much do you owe my master?' He answered, `A hundred measures of oil.' Then said the steward, `Take your wax board bond, sit down quickly, and change it to fifty.' Then he said to another debtor, `How much do you owe?' And he replied, `A hundred measures of wheat.' Then said the steward, `Take your bond and write fourscore.' And this he did with numerous other debtors. And so did this dishonest steward seek to make [[friends]] for himself after he would be discharged from his stewardship. Even his lord and master, when he subsequently found out about this, was compelled to admit that his unfaithful steward had at least shown [[sagacity]] in the [[manner]] in which he had sought to provide for [[future]] days of want and [[adversity]].[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_Luke#Chapter_16]

169:2.5 " And it is in this way that the sons of this world sometimes show more [[wisdom]] in their [[preparation]] for the [[future]] than do the [[children]] of [[light]]. I say to you who profess to be acquiring [[treasure]] in [[heaven]]: Take lessons from those who make [[friends]] with the [[mammon]] of unrighteousness, and likewise so conduct your lives that you make [[eternal]] friendship with the [[forces]] of [[righteousness]] in order that, when all [[things]] [[earth]]ly fail, you shall be [[joyfully]] [[received]] into the [[eternal]] habitations.

169:2.6 " I affirm that he who is [[faithful]] in little will also be faithful in much, while he who is unrighteous in little will also be unrighteous in much. If you have not shown [[foresight]] and [[integrity]] in the affairs of this world, how can you [[hope]] to be [[faithful]] and [[prudent]] when you are [[trusted]] with the stewardship of the true [[riches]] of the [[the kingdom|heavenly kingdom]]? If you are not [[good]] [[stewards]] and [[faithful]] [[bankers]], if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will be foolish enough to give you great [[treasure]] in your own name?

169:2.7 " And again I [[assert]] that no man can serve two masters; either he will [[hate]] the one and [[love]] the other, or else he will hold to one while he despises the other. You cannot serve [[God]] and [[mammon]]. "

169:2.8 When the [[Pharisees]] who were present heard this, they began to [[sneer]] and scoff since they were much given to the acquirement of [[riches]]. These unfriendly hearers sought to [[engage]] [[Jesus]] in unprofitable [[argumentation]], but he refused to [[debate]] with his enemies. When the [[Pharisees]] fell to wrangling among themselves, their loud [[speaking]] attracted large numbers of [[the multitude]] encamped thereabouts; and when they began to [[dispute]] with each other, [[Jesus]] withdrew, going to his tent for the night.[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_Luke#Chapter_16]

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[[Category:Paper 169 - Last Teaching at Pella]]
[[Category: Parables]]