In some parables, Jesus takes the time to explain what He’s talking about so there will be no confusion. Such is the case with the Parable of the Sower. Other Parables feature such a good application after the fact that you completely understand the point. Such is the case with the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the Parable of the Wedding Feast. Still other parables are so concise and so easy to understand that they need no additional comment from Jesus. Such is the case with the Parable of the Talents and the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard.
One of the most intriguing and confusing parables of Jesus appears in the first thirteen verses of Luke 16. There’s no real consensus on its title. The NKJV refers to it as “The Parable of the Unjust Steward,” the ESV calls it “The Parable of the Dishonest Manager,” and the NIV titles it “The Parable of the Shrewd Manager.” On the surface, this parable praises a manager for what appears to be unethical business practices. But is there more to this parable than meets the eye?
There are three things we know about the manager in this parable. First, we know that he was accused of “wasting” the rich man’s “possessions” (Luke 16:1). We don’t know the specifics of this accusation, but we do know 1) that the rich man believed the accusations and ordered an audit of the manager’s financial activity and 2) that the rich man was guilty because he anticipated unemployment.
Second, we know that in anticipation of being fired, the manager reduced the debts of the rich man’s debtors. The parable indicates that he showed them financial mercy so that they might do the same to him when he faced his pending financial crisis.
Finally, we know that the manager was “commended” by the rich man for his “shrewdness.” Shrewdness is “the quality of having or showing good powers of judgment.” So, the manager is commended for his wise decision-making in the face of difficult circumstances and his astute preparation for the future.
The manager’s actions pose a dilemma for us because, from our vantage point, they appear unethical. At face value, it seems that this manager reduced how much people owed the rich man without the rich man’s approval or knowledge. So, we conclude that the manager has done something sketchy, and our perception is aided by the fact that Luke describes this manager as “unrighteous,” “unjust,” or “dishonest” in 16:8, depending on which translation you read.
However, those negative adjectives are likely attached to his “wasteful” actions rather than his shrewd actions. One way his debt reduction plan can be explained is that he eliminated his commission. In other words, he canceled the fee that he would have received as the debt collector. Herein lies the shrewdness of this decision: by canceling his fee, he would have ingratiated himself with the debtors so that when he fell on hard times, they might be willing to help him, and he simultaneously would have protected the rich man’s estate so that the rich man would not have had reason to pursue legal action against him. Thus, the manager is commended for wisely making a selfless decision that would win favor with the debtors without negatively impacting the rich man.
So, what’s the point of this parable? One key takeaway from this parable is the need to be perpetually ready for the Day of Judgment. The Bible indicates that there is a day coming when every single person will “appear before the judgment seat of Christ” and, like the manager in this parable, give an account “for what [they have] done” (2 Corinthians 5:10). But here’s the thing about that day: we don’t know when it will happen. Twice in the New Testament, we are told that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10). In other words, the day on which we will have to give an account for our lives is unknown to us and will therefore be unexpected when it arrives. So, we should live in a constant state of preparation.
This manager recognized that judgment was coming, and he instinctively took the necessary steps to protect his future. We must do the same.
- What is your favorite parable and why?
- What does being ready for the Day of Judgment entail?
- What practical steps can you take as an individual or a family to ensure that you are ready for the day Jesus returns?
- What is another lesson we can learn from the Parable of the Shrewd Manager?