The Parable of the Dishonest Manager – Luke 16:1-16
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True or false. Jesus said, “Make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth.”
Actually, the answer is true. He did say that. Take a look.
And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.
Luke 16:9
Why would our Savior say that?
Well, let’s start from the beginning of today’s parable, and you will see the lessons He was teaching the disciples.
As always, Jesus tells the story best.
He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’
And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’
So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty. Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’
The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness.
The manager realized that if he was about to lose his position, he would have to find a way to support himself. He decided that if he could appear to save the day for the debtors in the story that he could go back to them and ask for his own favors. Maybe they could give him a job or provide him a place to live.
Now, the master in this story was not pleased with the manager’s dishonesty. But he certainly did recognize the wisdom of having such a shrewd man on his team.
For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.
Jesus is not approving of sinful behavior. The unrighteous wealth in the parable simply refers to worldly possessions. Believers must be faithful in using God’s provision of material wealth in an unselfish way. Our earthly treasures are never to be squandered or hoarded. They are an earthly tool with which to glorify God.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21
This parable Jesus taught the disciples, and all believers is that the world is more dedicated to their ambition and wealth than many believers are to their pursuit of godly things.
If believers were as diligent as the manager, we would shine as lights in this dark world.
“…be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…”
Philippians 2:15
Share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
English Standard Version (ESV)
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
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