What Can We Learn From The Unjust Steward? Part 2
Explaining the Parable
Jesus then discloses a little bit more about the meaning of this parable in verses 10–13:
One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Luke 16:10–13)
Jesus calls us to be faithful stewards (1 Corinthians 4:2) and to use part of the wealth and resources we have to serve and/or provide for others, which in turn praises and glorifies God (1 Peter 4:8–11). A faithful steward needs to be honest, hardworking, responsible, patient, and generous (with his own money and resources) with others.
Applying the Parable
In verses 14–15, Jesus directed this parable to target the Pharisees who loved money. The text mentions that they ridiculed Christ. They thought of themselves as serving God and money and had no problem reconciling both in their minds. Jesus rightly called them hypocrites (Matthew 6:1–19). They used their religious positions as a means to gain money, fame, and preferential treatment. Jesus reminds them (verse 15) that God knows and sees the abominable state of their hearts.
Jesus had even had this discussion with the disciples before, telling them: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). The parable of the unjust steward is aiming to subtly pry open the Pharisees’ hearts and get them to realize that they are the unjust steward. They had squandered the resources and gifts that God gave them, they disdained the people whom they were supposed to teach, and they were strictly motivated by pride, greed, and outward shows of piety (Matthew 23; John 7:39). Jesus even said that they prevented people from the kingdom of heaven because they replaced the true gospel of faith with a doctrine of works, which itself was hypocritical because they did not follow their own rules (Matthew 23:3–13).
Paul, while speaking through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, gave sound biblical advice to those who had been thieves: “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need” (Ephesians 4:28). This is what Jesus’ parable was getting to: Don’t serve God and money, but serve God with your money and other resources.
But Why the Commendation of the Unjust Steward?
This is the part of the parable that is most difficult to understand. What was Jesus getting at with the tale of the two primary figures in the parable? It is possible that the “rich man,” likely a business owner, was also corrupt in his dealings.2 If so, then he might have thought that the steward’s solution was brilliant. The steward’s plan might have saved him from debtor’s prison or encouraged other business owners to hire him (especially for “shady” business dealings).
s for what Jesus meant with the parable’s “rich man” commending the unjust steward, Pastor Swindoll so neatly summed up the sons of light statement: “If we were as eager and ingenious to attain wisdom and goodness as the unsaved are to attain money and comfort, our lives would show dramatic change. If we were as relentless in our pursuit of forgiveness and grace as the unsaved are in their pursuit of winning, our relationships would change.”3
Jesus seems to be saying through this parable that we need to emulate the passion that fuels unbelievers for achieving their primary goals in life (whatever they may be). If Christians were as passionate about living their lives for Christ as unbelievers are about living for themselves, the name of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the church would be more greatly honored, even by unbelievers. Just as Paul told Titus, and Peter told his readers:
Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. (Titus 2:7–8)
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11–12)
Apologetics Takeaway
When Jesus told his disciples to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16), he was telling them to avoid unnecessarily provoking their opponents (wise) while remaining “guileless” (innocent as doves). The same instruction is being given in the parable of the unjust steward (but in the form of an antithesis).
Preaching the gospel and, in our present time, even standing for Christian principles are viewed as “hostile,” “intolerant,” and “hate speech.” However, God commands us to be bold in proclaiming his Word (Acts 28:30–31; 1 Corinthians 16:13–14; Ephesians 6:10–11; Philippians 1:12–14) and warns us that we will face persecution for his name’s sake (Luke 21:17; 2 Timothy 3:12). The unjust steward was about to suffer loss because of his own theft and embezzlement, but Jesus was using the parable to instruct his disciples (and also warn the Pharisees) that being wise, prudent, bold, and yet innocent of wrongdoing would be invaluable to them as they preached the gospel in the farthest reaches of the known world. Peter spoke a lot on this topic of the sufferings of the righteous:
or this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:19–21)
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:13–17).
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. (1 Peter 4:14–16)
Footnotes
Robert H. Stein, Luke, vol. 24 in The New American Commentary (Nashville: B&H Publishers, 1992), 416.
Charles Swindoll, Insights on Luke (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012), 391–392.
Swindoll, Insights on Luke, 392.
by Troy Lacey and Lita Sanders on September 30, 2025
This is what we can learn from the Unjust Servant.
Jesus then discloses a little bit more about the meaning of this parable in verses 10–13:
One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Luke 16:10–13)
Jesus calls us to be faithful stewards (1 Corinthians 4:2) and to use part of the wealth and resources we have to serve and/or provide for others, which in turn praises and glorifies God (1 Peter 4:8–11). A faithful steward needs to be honest, hardworking, responsible, patient, and generous (with his own money and resources) with others.
Applying the Parable
In verses 14–15, Jesus directed this parable to target the Pharisees who loved money. The text mentions that they ridiculed Christ. They thought of themselves as serving God and money and had no problem reconciling both in their minds. Jesus rightly called them hypocrites (Matthew 6:1–19). They used their religious positions as a means to gain money, fame, and preferential treatment. Jesus reminds them (verse 15) that God knows and sees the abominable state of their hearts.
Jesus had even had this discussion with the disciples before, telling them: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). The parable of the unjust steward is aiming to subtly pry open the Pharisees’ hearts and get them to realize that they are the unjust steward. They had squandered the resources and gifts that God gave them, they disdained the people whom they were supposed to teach, and they were strictly motivated by pride, greed, and outward shows of piety (Matthew 23; John 7:39). Jesus even said that they prevented people from the kingdom of heaven because they replaced the true gospel of faith with a doctrine of works, which itself was hypocritical because they did not follow their own rules (Matthew 23:3–13).
Paul, while speaking through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, gave sound biblical advice to those who had been thieves: “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need” (Ephesians 4:28). This is what Jesus’ parable was getting to: Don’t serve God and money, but serve God with your money and other resources.
But Why the Commendation of the Unjust Steward?
This is the part of the parable that is most difficult to understand. What was Jesus getting at with the tale of the two primary figures in the parable? It is possible that the “rich man,” likely a business owner, was also corrupt in his dealings.2 If so, then he might have thought that the steward’s solution was brilliant. The steward’s plan might have saved him from debtor’s prison or encouraged other business owners to hire him (especially for “shady” business dealings).
s for what Jesus meant with the parable’s “rich man” commending the unjust steward, Pastor Swindoll so neatly summed up the sons of light statement: “If we were as eager and ingenious to attain wisdom and goodness as the unsaved are to attain money and comfort, our lives would show dramatic change. If we were as relentless in our pursuit of forgiveness and grace as the unsaved are in their pursuit of winning, our relationships would change.”3
Jesus seems to be saying through this parable that we need to emulate the passion that fuels unbelievers for achieving their primary goals in life (whatever they may be). If Christians were as passionate about living their lives for Christ as unbelievers are about living for themselves, the name of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the church would be more greatly honored, even by unbelievers. Just as Paul told Titus, and Peter told his readers:
Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. (Titus 2:7–8)
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11–12)
Apologetics Takeaway
When Jesus told his disciples to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16), he was telling them to avoid unnecessarily provoking their opponents (wise) while remaining “guileless” (innocent as doves). The same instruction is being given in the parable of the unjust steward (but in the form of an antithesis).
Preaching the gospel and, in our present time, even standing for Christian principles are viewed as “hostile,” “intolerant,” and “hate speech.” However, God commands us to be bold in proclaiming his Word (Acts 28:30–31; 1 Corinthians 16:13–14; Ephesians 6:10–11; Philippians 1:12–14) and warns us that we will face persecution for his name’s sake (Luke 21:17; 2 Timothy 3:12). The unjust steward was about to suffer loss because of his own theft and embezzlement, but Jesus was using the parable to instruct his disciples (and also warn the Pharisees) that being wise, prudent, bold, and yet innocent of wrongdoing would be invaluable to them as they preached the gospel in the farthest reaches of the known world. Peter spoke a lot on this topic of the sufferings of the righteous:
or this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:19–21)
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:13–17).
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. (1 Peter 4:14–16)
Footnotes
Robert H. Stein, Luke, vol. 24 in The New American Commentary (Nashville: B&H Publishers, 1992), 416.
Charles Swindoll, Insights on Luke (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012), 391–392.
Swindoll, Insights on Luke, 392.
by Troy Lacey and Lita Sanders on September 30, 2025
This is what we can learn from the Unjust Servant.
70-79, M
