Luke 16:1-13 (Parable of the Shrewd Manager, just read, not a memory test) Flashcards
Title: The Parable of the Shrewd Manager (Luke 16:1-2)
Prompt: What was the situation with the manager in the beginning of the parable?
Passage:
Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’” (Luke 16:1-2, NIV)
Analysis:
In the opening of the parable, a rich man hears that his manager has been mismanaging his wealth, so he confronts the manager and demands an explanation. The manager is informed that he will be fired because of his mismanagement. This sets up the dilemma that the manager faces, as he knows he will soon lose his position. This part of the parable introduces a situation where the manager is about to face the consequences of his actions. The rich man represents God or those in authority, while the manager is someone entrusted with resources, but who has failed in his responsibility.
Title: The Manager’s Shrewd Response (Luke 16:3-7)
Prompt: How does the manager respond to the impending loss of his position?
Passage:
“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg – I know what I’ll do so that when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’ So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied.
The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’
Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’
‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied.
He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’” (Luke 16:3-7, NIV)
Analysis:
The manager, realizing he’s about to be fired and not wanting to resort to hard labor or begging, quickly devises a plan to secure his future. He decides to reduce the debts owed to his master by two of his clients. By doing this, he hopes to make these debtors indebted to him, so they will take him in once he’s dismissed. His actions are clever and strategic, even though they are dishonest. This part of the parable illustrates the manager’s quick thinking in a time of crisis, using the resources available to him to ensure his survival. The manager’s decision also shows his shrewdness, even though it is ethically questionable.
Title: The Rich Man’s Commendation (Luke 16:8)
Prompt: How does the master react to the manager’s actions?
Passage:
“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” (Luke 16:8, NIV)
Analysis:
Interestingly, despite the manager’s dishonest actions, the rich man commends him for being shrewd. The rich man recognizes the manager’s ability to act quickly and cleverly to secure his future, even if the methods were questionable. This part of the parable highlights the wisdom of being strategic and resourceful, even though the manager’s actions were not morally right. Jesus uses this moment to point out that people in the world often demonstrate more shrewdness and practical wisdom in handling their worldly affairs than followers of Christ sometimes do in their spiritual lives. The challenge here is for Christians to use wisdom and discernment, not just for earthly gain, but for eternal purposes.
Title: The Application for Followers of Jesus (Luke 16:9-10)
Prompt: What does Jesus teach about using worldly wealth?
Passage:
“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” (Luke 16:9-10, NIV)
Analysis:
Jesus teaches that, just as the manager used worldly resources to secure his future, Christians should use earthly wealth and resources to build relationships and invest in things of eternal value. The money and possessions we have should not be hoarded or used solely for self-interest but should be directed toward doing good for others and advancing God’s kingdom. The parable encourages wise stewardship, suggesting that how we handle small things (like money) is a reflection of our ability to handle bigger, more significant responsibilities. The message here is clear: use what you have to build lasting relationships and advance God’s work, as this will result in eternal rewards.
Title: Faithfulness and Stewardship (Luke 16:11-12)
Prompt: How does Jesus expand on the idea of being faithful in small things?
Passage:
“So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?” (Luke 16:11-12, NIV)
Analysis:
Jesus emphasizes that faithfulness in handling small things, such as money and possessions, is crucial. If we are not trustworthy in managing earthly wealth, we cannot expect to be entrusted with true riches—the eternal blessings and responsibilities God has for us. This principle of stewardship applies to all areas of life: how we handle the small, everyday things reflects our ability to manage larger, more significant tasks. In this parable, Jesus is urging His followers to be wise and faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to them, as faithfulness in small matters leads to greater responsibilities and rewards in God’s kingdom.
Title: Serving Two Masters (Luke 16:13)
Prompt: What is the danger of trying to serve both God and wealth?
Passage:
“No servant can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Luke 16:13, NIV)
Analysis:
Jesus concludes this teaching with a stark warning about the danger of divided loyalty. A person cannot serve both God and money; one will always take precedence over the other. If we prioritize wealth, we will find ourselves becoming less devoted to God, and vice versa. This verse calls for undivided devotion to God and challenges us to evaluate our priorities. If we are overly focused on accumulating wealth or material success, we may be neglecting our spiritual responsibilities. Jesus makes it clear that our heart and loyalty must be fully devoted to God, rather than divided between God and earthly wealth.
