What does the parable of the shrewd manager mean?

Answer 1

The parable you are refering to is Luke 16:1-8 with additional teaching by Jesus on money in Luke 16:9-15.

The difficulty of this parable is that a dishonest manager is being commended for his dishonesty! It is confusing. Do not steal is one of the 10 commandments. How is this behavior being commended?

The key in understanding the parable is to know if the manager is acting on behalf of his master (The Rich Man) when he lowers the debt the creditors owe his master. Luke 16:3 indicated he was. The manager says this, "My master is taking away my job." Note the tense of the verb. The Rich Man did not fire him on the spot! He was in the period of time his master gave him to "give an account of your management" (Luke 16:2). The creditors were under the impression that the Rich Man was the one being generous with them and lowering the amount they owed him.

The shrewd manager was hoping the creditors would welcome him into their homes and give him hospitality if and when he lost his job and was in need. He was hoping the creditors would honor the messanger who gives them good news. Notice that it is the Master who commends the "dishonest" manager because he acted "shrewdly" (Luke 16:8). The Rich Man had two choices. Firstly, he could expose the dishonest manager for acting independently of his wishes and tell his creditors they still owed the full amount of their bills. If he does this he would appear selfish and greedy (even though it would be within his rights). Secondly, he could let the action of the manager stand and receive the praise given him by his creditors (and no doubt others within the community) for his generousity. He would learn from his mistake of letting the manager he was suspicious of act on his behalf. Next time he would fire someone on the spot.

Jesus follows up the parable with a challenge to those who follow him to be creative in their use of worldly wealth for eternal purposes! He contrasts "worldy wealth" with "true riches" (Luke 16:11). Jesus does not confuse the two. He concludes with the warning that no one can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and Money at the same time. You can only have one master. If money is your master then God cannot be. If God is your master then you will use money to serve God. That is the point of this parable.