Parable of the Unjust Steward

Luke 16:1-13; Properly understood, the Parable of the Unjust Steward is not an endorsement of the fraudulent course pursued by an unrighteous servant, but a forceful explanation of how the saints should use their own money and property to lay up eternal treasures for themselves in heaven.

Luke 16:1-13; First it should be noted that the parable is addressed to the disciples, to the members of the Church and kingdom of God on earth, to those who already know and understand the gospel plan and to whom it should never so much as occur that Jesus would speak with approval of a course of deceit and fraud on the part of a hired servant. To them it should be clear that the Master Teacher is:

Luke 16:1-13; (1) In the parable itself—pointing out the diligence and foresight with which worldly persons make provision for the only future that concerns them, such being an illustration of how the saints should apply themselves in preparing for their eternal heavenly future; and

Luke 16:1-13; (2) In the exposition following the parable—teaching the proper use of wealth on the part of members of the Church, showing that it should not be squandered on selfish, worldly pleasures, but used for the furtherance of the Lord's work on earth, for the building up of his kingdom, and for the advancement of the cause of Zion so that the saints will have, in effect, a bank account awaiting them in heaven.

Luke 16:1-13; "Our Lord's purpose," Elder James E. Talmage has written in analyzing the parable, "was to show the contrast between the care, thoughtfulness, and devotion of men engaged in the moneymaking affairs of earth, and the halfhearted ways of many who are professedly striving after spiritual riches. Worldly-minded men do not neglect provision for their future years, and often are sinfully eager to amass plenty; while the 'children of light,' or those who believe spiritual wealth to be above all earthly possessions, are less energetic, prudent, or wise."

Luke 16:1-13; As to the proper use of wealth, Elder Talmage writes that Jesus is saying in effect: "Make such use of your wealth as shall insure you friends hereafter. Be diligent; for the day in which you can use your earthly riches will soon pass. Take a lesson from even the dishonest and the evil; if they are so prudent as to provide for the only future they think of, how much more should you, who believe in an eternal future, provide therefor!" (Talmage, pp. 463-464.)

Luke 16:8; 8. By his master the dishonest servant is commended, not for his malfeasance in office, but for the effective way in which he made provision for his own future. Then Jesus draws this conclusion: The children of this world (worldly people) are in their generation (in the time and season of their deceitful and carnal dealings with other worldly people) wiser (exhibit greater prudence and foresight, as pertaining to temporal things) than the children of light (those who have received the gospel, as pertaining to spiritual things).

Luke 16:9; 9. In the Revised Version this verse reads: "And I say unto you, Make to yourself friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness, that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles." The sense and meaning is: 'Ye saints of God, be as wise and prudent in spiritual things as the unjust steward was in worldly things. Use the things of this world—which are God's and with reference to which you are stewards—to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and heal the sick, always remembering that when ye do any of these things unto the least of one of these my brethren, ye do it unto me. By such a course, when your money is gone and your life is past, your friends in heaven will welcome you into eternal mansions of bliss.'

Luke 16:9; Mammon of unrighteousness] Mammon is an Aramaic word for riches; as here used the connotation indicates deceitful wealth, wealth that is fleeting and will not of itself endure in the eternal worlds.

Luke 16:10-11; 10-11. 'If you earthly stewards are not faithful in handling the wealth of the world which the Lord has entrusted to you, using it for the furtherance of his purposes, why do you think he will commit to you kingdoms and thrones and eternal riches hereafter. For he that is faithful over an earthly stewardship will be faithful over kingdoms and dominions in the world to come, but he that is unjust and does not use his wealth aright here, would be unjust in administering eternal riches.'

Luke 16:12; 12. "If you do not spend your money rightly, you will not inherit the kingdom of heaven. Money is here called that which is another's, because Christians are to regard it not as their own, but as a trust for which they must one day give account. That which is your own is the joy of heaven, 'the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'" (Dummelow, p. 760.) To illustrate: If the earthly stewards, having covenanted to do so in the waters of baptism, do not return to their Lord as tithing one—tenth of their interest annually, how can they expect to be found worthy to handle the true riches of a celestial inheritance?

Luke 16:13; 13. See Matthew 6:24. In the properly adjusted life, wealth is a servant, not a master.