Sunday, May 11 – Luke 16, 17

1. Did the master truly commend the dishonest steward? (Luke 16:8)

2. What did Jesus aim to teach through the parable of the rich man and Lazarus? (Luke 16:19–31)

3. Why did Jesus say, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation”? (Luke 17:20)

Evidently, the master did not commend the steward’s behavior; he regarded him as dishonest but instead praised the cunning with which he acted in his interest by renegotiating the debts owed by the renters, making them seem much lower in the master’s books than they truly were. Jesus concludes from the parable: “The sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.”

The correct interpretation is that those who do not fear God, lacking conscience and respect, often exhibit greater cunning than God’s children in maximizing their relationships. How much wiser and more discerning should we be in spiritual matters that last for eternity!
Many people misinterpret the parable of the rich man and Lazarus when they read it through the lens of preconceived ideas, which causes them to miss Jesus’ intended message. If we take the parable as a literal teaching that one immediately goes to heaven or hell at death, we face several biblical contradictions. For example, Jesus and the apostles taught that the reward of the righteous will be given at the second coming of Christ (Matthew 16:27; 25:31–41). Moreover, the Bible states clearly that “the dead know nothing” and have no part in anything under the sun (Ecclesiastes 9:5–6, 10).

There are additional inconsistencies in a literal interpretation. For instance, spirits do not possess eyes, fingers, or tongues (Luke 16:21–22). The rich man requests that someone return from the dead to warn his family, but wouldn’t it be more suitable for a living person to deliver that message? Additionally, would the redeemed truly feel joy in heaven while witnessing the eternal suffering of the lost?

The parable should be understood in harmony with its context and the overall message of Scripture. Jesus aimed to teach essential truths to the Pharisees, who held preconceived notions. He sought to demonstrate that salvation is not dependent on material wealth, but rather on a person’s character and actions during their lifetime, not after death.

Nearly four years had passed since John the Baptist began preaching that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The Pharisees asked how long they would have to wait before seeing tangible evidence of the kingdom’s arrival. They maintained a flawed understanding of the Messianic kingdom. Jesus proclaimed that the kingdom of God would not come with visible signs, for He and John spoke of the kingdom of grace, invisible to the human eye, and it was already present. However, the blind Pharisees could not perceive it because they only sought external appearances. It required spiritual discernment to recognize the arrival of God’s kingdom in the hearts of men.

The cleverness of the dishonest steward is noteworthy, not to be imitated in wrongdoing but to be applied in works that honor and glorify our Heavenly Father and contribute to the advancement of His eternal kingdom.

Jesus teaches us that the chance for salvation exists during our lifetime, not after death. It is neither poverty nor wealth that determines our worthiness for salvation.

The kingdom of God starts when we genuinely accept Jesus as our personal Savior, allowing Him to dwell in us every day through His Holy Spirit.

May the abundant blessings of Almighty God be with you today.