Parable of the Unrighteous Steward, today's verses are Lk 16:13

We continue our look at the (somewhat tough to grapple with) parable of the "unrighteous steward" found in Lk 16:1-13 

The general overview of the parable can be found HERE. 

The verses we will look at in-depth are Lk 16:13   In a parable we need to understand the explanation or application first IF Jesus gives one.  For this parable He does.  So that is what we will look at first.  This will help us when looking at the parable itself.

My guidelines for studying a parable were culled from the following two books:

• Understanding and Applying the Bible by Robertson McQuilkin
• The New How To Study Your Bible by Kay Arthur

You can hover your pointer over (most) any verse reference to read the corresponding verse(s).  (Scriptural cross-references are THE most important resource!)

As I stated in my last post this is the first parable I have truly tried to dive into.  So my posts may be a bit more rambling as I tried to keep in my process of coming to terms with various parts of the parable.

(in fact, in hindsight I should have studied Lk 16:9-13 as a whole!)

Luke 16:13 (NASB)
¹³ "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

Grammatical and other Observations

• Cannot!  Jesus uses this word twice in this verse.  We cannot serve both God and wealth.  We are to love God, NOT money.  (based on where I think the preceding parable is going, we are to make money serve us and OTHERS but WE serve God!

My Questions

• How does this relate to the parable of Lk 16:1-8 Is it part of the explanation or just related?

Verse Cross References

• Lk 16:13 --  Mt 6:24 Lk 14:26 Lk 16:9 Lk 9:49-50 !?!  Lk 11:23 Jos 24:15 Mt 4:10 Ro 6:16-22 Ro 8:5-8 James 4:4 1Jn 2:16  Am 8:4-7 Pr 16:8 Pr 11:1-3 Ps 37:21 Lev 19:11 Lev 19:35 1Co 10:21 Jos 22:5 
• Thoughts -- We ARE asked to make a choice!  Jesus or the world!  If we choose Jesus we are to be His servants and we are to go all in!  1Ti 6:10  is also such an important verse.  Always good to remind ourselves that it is NOT money that is the root of all evils, it is the LOVE of money, the desire for, money that lead us to turn away from God and pursue our own agendas.  And yet we do need to work for a living!  We need to make money and earn it.  1Co 9:10  Eph 4:28 2Th 3:11-12 Titus 3:14  But 1)  We are not to worry about food (money) Mt 6:25-34 AND 2) we are NOT to love money or SERVE it.  We are to only serve God.  Mt 4:10 

 

Important terms

Servant:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- Ac 10:7  Ro 14:4  1Pe 2:18 Mk 9:35 Ac 4:27  Ro 1:1  1Ti 4:6  2Ti 2:24  Rev 19:10 
• Thoughts -- Service is important to the entire section of Scripture.  Jesus often tells us we are to serve.  He states often that He came to serve.  So this verse is telling us that we can't serve two masters!
• Definition --  a household servant.  The Complete Word Dictionary tells us that this Greek word does not bring out the servile relationship as strongly as duolos which means slave.

Serve:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- Lk 15:29  Jn 8:33  Ac 7:7  Ac 20:19  Ro 6:6  Ro 7:6  Ro 12:11  Ro 14:18  Ro 16:18  Gal 4:8-9  Gal 5:13  Col 3:24 
• Thoughts -- The word seems to connote bondage and service.??
• Definition --  to be in the position of servant and act accordingly.  to be subject and serve in subjection and bondage.  OR can be voluntary service!  (maybe relevant to our verse as we are to choose who we will serve:  God or wealth!)  THIS word is derived from duolos which is a slave.  So an interesting choice of words.

Masters:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- This word is a LOT but is often translated into the Lord!  Interesting!!
• Definition -- master, owner and according to The Complete Word Study Dictionary it is the NT Greek equivalent for the OT Hebrew term Jehovah! 
• And this would mean Jesus is telling us not to make money into an idol!  We have only God!!  Ex 20:2-4

 Wealth:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- Only found in this section of Scripture Lk 16:1-13   and then once in Mt 6:24   
• Definition --  Wealth, the personification of riches.  A comprehensive word for all kinds of possession and earnings.  In our verse The Complete Word Study Dictionary states the Jesus is personifying mammon, the pagan god of materialism.

Answering My Questions

• How does this relate to the parable of Lk 16:1-8 Is it part of the explanation or just related?  --  I am fairly convinced it is a big part of the explanation.  I think more will be made clear as I work my way back through the verses.

Summarizing

• Pretty Clear!  We are not able to serve wealth and God at the same time.  We cannot have a divided mind.  And we are to serve God!  (i think it is important to note that Jesus invoked the name of a pagan god in his explanation!  Jesus is comparing the LOVE of money to idolatry!  It is  a direct comparison.  He is not really mincing or parsing words.)

We will continue next time with the rest of Jesus' explanation of Lk 16:1-8, by looking at Lk 16:9-12 
 

Bibliography

• Fleming, Don. Concise Bible Commentary. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1994. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• God's Word: Today's Bible Translation That Means What It Says Holiday, FL: Green Key Books, n.d.. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• God's Word Application Index. Holiday, FL: Green Key Books, n.d.. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• – Holman Christian Standard Bible Nashville: Holman Bible, 1999. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• – Holman Christian Standard Bible Nashville: Holman Bible, 1999. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Holy Bible, New American Standard La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• The Holy Bible: New King James Version Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1988. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Pfeiffer, Charles F. and Everett F. Harrison, ed. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Chicago: Moody Bible Institute, 1990. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Thompson, Frank Charles. Thompson Chain Reference Bible. Indianapolis, IN: B. B. Kirkbride Bible Co., 1997. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Thompson, Frank Charles. Thompson Chain Reference Bible. Indianapolis, IN: B. B. Kirkbride Bible Co., 1997. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Torrey, R. A. The New Topical Textbook. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1897. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Vine, William E. Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1940. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study Dictionary – New Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1993. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Zodhiates, Spiros, ed. – The Complete Word Study New Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG, 1991. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.