15th Sunday after Pentecost

“Jesus is God’s Perfect Steward”

The manager in the parable today is not commended by the master for his dishonesty. What

was commended was the shrewd steward’s perception and insight that he recognized his

predicament. This crook facing a crisis is not praised because he is a crook. Rather, the

master’s point of praise is the steward’s wisdom in recognizing two things. First, it was in

correctly analyzing his own resources to meet the future. He had none! Second, it was in

correctly trusting His master’s undeserved and generous mercy for those whose debts he

reduced. He staked everything on the belief that his master would honor the words nullifying

a debt that he spoke in the master’s name. He trusted that the master would not go back on

the promise to the debtors, even though they were made dishonestly as he looked out for

himself. That’s the point! The mercy of the Lord even in the face of mismanagement!