The Unjust Steward
The story of the rich man and his unjust steward in Lk 16:1-9 is a lesson to the Pharisees and Israel. Jesus told the story and then, in the next few verses, made the direct application to them.
The rich man pictures the Lord. The unjust steward who wasted the rich man’s goods pictures the Pharisees. Because the steward was unjust, his lord gave him notice that he was going to take away his stewardship from him.
The steward reasoned that because he couldn’t dig, that is he couldn’t support himself with manual labor, and because he was ashamed to beg, he would secure help from his lord’s debtors, before leaving his lord.
So he called them and had them reduce the amount of oil and wheat they owed to his lord. One teacher said that because the debtors falsified the amounts they owed, they weren’t going to further accuse the steward. Instead, they were obligated to him.
Thus, the lord commended the unjust steward because he devised a means for his support following his dismissal. Then Jesus said, “the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light”.
The children of light are Israel. Jesus is the true Light. However, when he came to his own, his own received him not, Jn 1:9-11. They should have, because they were, with him, to be a light to the Gentiles, Is 49:3-6. Notice that when Jesus returns, and all Israel is saved, Gentiles seeking the Lord will follow Jews into Jerusalem to pray before the Lord, Zech 8:20-23.
The Pharisees were unjust, like this steward. They rejected Jesus, the light of the world, Jn 8:12-13. They made the law of none effect by their tradition, Mk 7:5-13. And they justified themselves and were covetous, Lk 16:15.
Therefore, they were going to fail. Consequently, Jesus instructed them to make themselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness. They were going to be run out of their country by Titus in 70 AD, like this steward was being fired from his stewardship.
Thus, in order to survive, they were going to have to “make it” among Gentiles in Gentile nations. For centuries, Jews have done this through the mammon of unrighteousness, because it’s wha tGentiles seek, Matt 6:31-33. And Gentile nations that take care of dispersed Jews and befriend them are going to be rewarded with “everlasting habitations” at the judgment of nations in Matt 25:31-40. These Gentile nations inherit the kingdom prepared for them.
When Jesus concluded this story, he explained the point of it in verses 10-12. A faithful man is faithful in the least and in much; while an unjust man is unjust in the least and also in much.
Like this steward, the Pharisees had not been faithful in handling mammon. Therefore the Lord was not going to commit to them the true riches, Rom 11:33, Eph 3:8, for example. And because they were not faithful with what God had entrusted to them, he was not going to give them what he has reserved for his faithful servants, Matt 25:21.
In verses 13 through 18, Jesus specifically rebuked the Pharisees for:
Attempting to serve God and mammon, which resulted in them hating God, v.13.
Being covetous, which is against the 10th commandment, v.14.
Justifying themselves before men, which is abomination, v.15.
Rejecting the kingdom of God offered to them, v.16, Matt 21:43.
Rejecting the commandment of God, v.17, as in Mk 7:9-12.
Committing adultery, v.18, Matt 19:8 for example.
Imagine the grace and mercy of Jesus who knew these Jews would fail, yet taught them how to take care of themselves after they failed.