Question 1

Why did Jesus tell the story of the unjust steward?

Accepted Answer

Jesus told this story to his disciples to talk about stewardship and how people handle what is entrusted to them. The rich man and his steward picture how God gives people resources, time, and opportunities, and then calls them to give an account. The steward’s panic and quick planning show that life will not go on forever and that there will be a day of reckoning. Jesus uses the steward’s concern for his future to urge his followers to think ahead about eternity and to handle money and possessions with that future in mind.

Question 2

Why does the master commend the unjust steward if he was dishonest?

Accepted Answer

The master does not praise the steward’s dishonesty, but his shrewdness and foresight. The steward knew he would soon lose his position, so he acted quickly to prepare for life after he was fired. Jesus points out that people who live only for this world often plan and work harder for earthly security than God’s people do for eternal life. The point is not to copy the steward’s sin, but to be at least as thoughtful and deliberate about eternal matters as people are about their short earthly lives.

Question 3

What does it mean to make friends with the mammon of unrighteousness?

Accepted Answer

“Mammon of unrighteousness” refers to worldly wealth, which is often tied up with sin and temptation and can be used wrongly. Jesus tells his followers to use this kind of money in a way that pleases God, especially by kindness and generosity to others. When he says to make friends with it, he points to using money to help people who belong to God. These acts of mercy and love show real faith and will be remembered when earthly riches fail and believers enter the eternal dwellings God has prepared.

Question 4

What does it mean to be faithful in that which is least?

Accepted Answer

Being faithful in what is least means handling small, everyday responsibilities and ordinary possessions in an honest, careful way that honors God. Jesus teaches that how a person deals with money and other earthly things shows what is in their heart. If someone is faithful with little, God counts them trustworthy for greater things. If they are careless or dishonest with small things, they show they are not ready for true, heavenly riches. This links daily financial choices with spiritual readiness and God’s future rewards.

Question 5

What are the true riches mentioned in this passage?

Accepted Answer

True riches are the lasting, heavenly blessings that come from God, not money or property that pass away. In this passage, worldly wealth is called unrighteous mammon and is described as something small and temporary, even belonging to “another man” because it is only entrusted for a time. In contrast, true riches are the spiritual treasures of God’s kingdom, such as knowing God, sharing in his grace, and the eternal life he gives. Jesus says that faithful handling of earthly wealth is tied to being entrusted with these better, permanent riches.

Question 6

Why does Jesus say you cannot serve God and mammon?

Accepted Answer

Jesus says no servant can serve two masters, because in the end the heart will cling to one and despise the other. Mammon is a word for wealth and possessions treated as a master. To serve mammon is to live for money, comfort, and gain as the main aim. To serve God is to love and obey him above all. These two loyalties pull in different directions. That is why Jesus says it is impossible to truly serve both at the same time. A person must choose which will be their real master.

Question 7

Who are the children of this world and the children of light?

Accepted Answer

The children of this world are people whose minds and goals are set on this present life. They think mainly about money, comfort, status, and short-term success. The children of light are those who belong to God and have been brought into his light. They are meant to live with eternity and God’s kingdom in view. Jesus notes that the children of this world often show more energy and cleverness in chasing earthly goals than believers sometimes show in pursuing eternal good, which should stir his followers to wake up and be more diligent.

Question 8

Why is this passage hard to understand for some readers?

Accepted Answer

This passage can feel difficult because a dishonest man seems to be praised and because the phrases about money and eternal dwellings are unusual. Some readers focus on whether the steward did something partly right, while others see him only as a bad example of worldly cleverness. The key is to see that Jesus is not blessing the sin but using the story to make a point about planning ahead, using wealth wisely, and the divide between serving God and serving money. Different details are weighed differently, but the main lessons are clear.

Question 9

How should this teaching shape the way I use money today?

Accepted Answer

This teaching invites you to view money as something entrusted to you by God, not as your own to use any way you like. It urges you to be honest, careful, and generous, especially toward those in need and toward God’s work. Instead of seeing wealth as your security, you are called to see it as a tool for serving others and pointing to eternal realities. Ask how your spending, giving, and saving show who your true master is, and let your choices reflect faith, love, and hope beyond this life.

Luke 16:1

And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

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Luke 16:1

And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

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The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

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