The Parables of Jesus - Part 9 [Notes]

Jesus was a master storyteller, and He constantly used short stories or parables to communicate spiritual truths to the crowds that gathered to hear Him. When Jesus' disciples asked why He spoke in parables so often, His answer was profound. He said that the same stories that served to open the eyes of the spiritually hungry would have the effect of blinding the eyes of those who refused to believe. By telling parables, the secrets of the kingdom would be revealed to Jesus' disciples, but they would be hidden from His opponents.

Join us this week as we dive into some of Jesus's most memorable stories through our new summer series, "The Parables of Jesus."

Today's Takeaway // Invest now for a secure future. 

He also said to the disciples: “There was a rich man who received an accusation that his manager was squandering his possessions. So he called the manager in and asked, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management because you can no longer be my manager.’”
– Luke 16:1-2 (HCSB)

This particular steward forgot that he was a steward and began to act as if he were the owner. He became a “prodigal steward” who wasted his master’s wealth. His master heard about it and immediately asked for an inventory of his goods and an audit of his books. He also fired his steward.
– Wiersbe

“Then the manager said to himself, ‘What should I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig; I’m ashamed to beg. I know what I’ll do so that whenI’m removed from management, people will welcome me into their homes.’ “So he summoned each one of his master’s debtors. ‘How much do you owe my master?’ he asked the first one. “‘A hundred measures of olive oil,’ he said. “‘Take your invoice,’ he told him, ‘sit down quickly, and write.’ “Next he asked another, ‘How much do you owe?’ “‘A hundred measures of wheat, ’he said. ”‘Take your invoice,’ he told him,‘ and write.’”
– Luke 16:3-7 (HCSB)

“The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted astutely. For the sons of this age are more astute than the sons of light in dealing with their own people.”
– Luke 16:8 (HCSB)

“The children of this world” are experts at seizing opportunities for making money and friends and getting ahead. God’s people should take heed and be just as wise when it comes to managing the spiritual affairs of life.
– Wiersbe

The dishonest manager had not done a good thing. But he had been careful to plan ahead, using material things to insure a secure future. Jesus was not teaching that His disciples should be dishonest. He was teaching that they should use material things for future spiritual benefit. This was a good lesson from a bad example.
– J.A. Martin

And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of the unrighteous money so that when it fails, they may welcome you into eternal dwellings. Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. So if you have not been faithful with the unrighteous money, who will trust you with what is genuine? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what is your own? No household slave can be the slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t be slaves to both God and money.”
– Luke 16:9-13 (HCSB)

But our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.
– Philippians 3:20-21 (HCSB)

1. If we are wise, we will use our earthly wealth to make heavenly friendships.

And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of the unrighteous money so that when it fails, they may welcome you into eternal dwellings.
– Luke 16:9 (HCSB)

During this brief life, we have the opportunity to use wealth to make friends for God, friends who will meet us in heaven!
– Wiersbe

1. If we are wise, we will use our earthly wealth to make heavenly friendships.
2. If we are good stewards of God’s wealth, He will provide us with wealth of our own.

So if you have not been faithful with the unrighteous money, who will trust you with what is genuine? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what is your own?
– Luke 16:11-12 (HCSB)

So if you have not been faithful with the unrighteous money, who will trust you with what is genuine?
– Luke 16:11 (HCSB)

And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what is your own?
– Luke 16:12 (HCSB)

1. If we are wise, we will use our earthly wealth to make heavenly friendships.
2. If we are good stewards of God’s wealth, He will provide us with wealth of our own.
3. If we want to serve God, we cannot be a slave to money.

No household slave can be the slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t be slaves to both God and money.”
– Luke 16:13 (HCSB)

1. If we are wise, we will use our earthly wealth to make heavenly friendships.
2. If we are good stewards of God’s wealth, He will provide us with wealth of our own.
3. If we want to serve God, we cannot be a slave to money.

The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and scoffing at Him. And He told them: “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God’s sight.
– Luke 16:14-15 (HCSB)

1. Why do you think people love money so much?
2. Read Luke 16:1-13. Why did the wealthy landowner praised the unrighteous manager? In other words, what good can we learn from the manager’s bad deeds?
3. What do you think Luke 16:9 means? How is it possible for us to use wealth to make friends who will welcome us into their heavenly dwellings?
4. Read Luke 16:10-12 again. What are some things we learn from these verses about being faithful with what God has entrusted to us?
5. Read Luke 16:13-15. Do you think most people would agree with what with Jesus said here: that it’s impossible to love both God and money, and that if you love one of these, you will hate the other? Explain your answer. How does loving God or money result in one of them becoming our master?
6. How might this parable impact your life?

Praise You Anywhere // Canvas and Clay // Homecoming // Revelation Song

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