1. Parable of the Shrewd Manager He Said What Series #1 Luke 16:1-13

2. Importance of the Series It is important for Christians not to ignore any part of God’s word, especially when it seems confusing Often times there is a lot of depth found in confusing passages, which shed a lot of light into the character of God

3. The Next Four Weeks Today - Parable of the Shrewd Manager Next Week - Jesus, the “anti-peace” God the Baby Killer? - Joshua ?? - What passage do you want to hear from

4. Luke 16:1-13 16:1 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’ 3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg — 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

5. Luke 16:1-13 5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 “‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’ 7 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

6. Luke 16:1-13 8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

7. Luke 16:1-13 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? 13 “No servant can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money.”

8. Questions That Arise What context does this situation take place? What did the manager do that was so dishonest to begin with? Why is Jesus supporting the actions of the manager?

9. Background: The Players Owner = God –Absentee Landlord –Man of Great Wealth - resources –Had authority over men Manager = Believing Christians –Most likely was a slave - at most was a servant –Had been entrusted and enabled by the owner –Although in bondage, still had power

10. Background: The Players Buyers = The World (unbelievers) –Most likely tenants (apartment renters) –The obvious thing: They didn’t pay there bills –These were not the “good guys” in the story - they are just there to make a point

11. Background: The Rules Buyers would rent from owners, but the owner’s established a manager to take care of this process The manager’s income would come from a slight raise in the owner’s cost for renting property

12. How was the manager dishonest? Fraud - owner didn’t know amount being charged Theft - owner realized money was missing Neglect - manager hadn’t been doing his job The point is now what the manager did wrong, but solely, the owner had every right to remove him from his job

13. Does Jesus praise dishonesty? Most likely, the manager was just returning money he had “loan- sharked” The issue is giving up present, and worldly things for the betterment of your relationships with God and others (especially unbelievers)

14. Applications of the Parable You need to be this eager at attaining holiness –Luke 16:8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.

15. Applications of the Parable Resources should be used at cementing friendships - where permanent value lies –Use money to make eternal differences –Option: Use money selfishly vs. using money to make life easier for others –Luke 16:9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

16. Applications of the Parable Fulfilling small tasks proves that larger ones can be granted –Luke 16:10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?

17. Applications of the Parable Be solely devoted to the Master, even if it means giving up desires of your own –Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money.”

18. Applications of the Parable Be solely devoted to the Master, even if it means giving up desires of your own –Notice that we have to be slaves –You should be as concerned about losing your spiritual relationship with God, as the manager was about losing his professional relationship with the owner

19. One Last Question: Focus? Focus on the Manager: parable gives a model for believers of how to act (i.e. Parable of the Good Samaritan) Focus on the Owner: parable gives reason to believers that after severe correction, God can restore them to their original state

20. Parable of the Shrewd Manager He Said What Series #1 Luke 16:1-13