Introduction
In this post we are going to meditate on Jesus’ teachings in Luke 16. We will read a warning from Jesus about the dangers of a divided heart, and his call to repentance.
Jesus’ Teaching So Far
The teachings in Luke 16 are part of a larger teaching in Luke 14–17. At the beginning of Luke 14, Jesus was dining at the house of a Pharisee when healing a man prompted him to teach.
Two Feast
He began with parables about two feasts. One in which someone chooses the lowest seat, but is exalted to the place of honor. In the second, guests of a banquet refuse to come, so the host opens his doors inviting everyone.
Two lost Objects
Jesus then told two parables about a sheep that is lost by going away, and a coin that is lost despite never leaving the home. There is rejoicing in heaven and earth at their return.
Two Sons
In the last parable we looked at, he told the story of a man with two sons. The younger son is the sheep who is lost when he goes away, and the older son is the coin who is lost despite staying at home. There is rejoicing when the younger son returns, but the older son is unhappy about this, because someone he felt was unworthy had been given the seat of honor.
A Message for Both Audiences
These parables have a message for both audiences. Those who feel unworthy can be elevated to the seat of honor, invited to the banquet, and welcomed home with rejoicing. While those who are prideful, will be asked to move down, miss out on the banquet, and refuse to be found at home. These double meanings were not lost on the Pharisees who were present. Jesus now teaches us about the dangers of a divided heart that tries to serve God and our own self-interest.
Jesus continues his teaching by telling the story of a dishonest manager.
There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.
1 Jesus uses the illustration of a master and servant or manager, to depict God and the Israelites. In this parable the manager was charged with wasting the man’s possessions. The Greek word translated as wasting in this verse is the same word used for the younger son squandering his father’s possessions. Not only is the younger son capable of squandering his father’s wealth away from home, but the older son is able to do it while remaining at home.
The rich man decides to fire his manager, and tells him to turn in the account of your management.
2 After realizing he is not fit for manual labor and too prideful to beg, the manager decided to make amends with the debtors so he will have somewhere to go.
Loan Without Interest
The manager calls each of the debtors and removes the interest from their debt. Throughout the Old Testament God commands Israel to not loan money with interest3. A common way to get around this was to give the value of a loan in a commodity like olive oil or wheat. Often the interest was charged by the managers without the master’s knowledge, and we have no indication that the master is ever aware of the interest in this parable.
Shrewdnes
In verse eight we are told the master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness.
4 Does this mean the master is commending the manager for his dishonest actions that got him to this place? No, not at all. The Greek word translated as shrewdness is [transliterate og_lang=greek og_script=φρονίμως define=true], which means prudently or wisely. 5 The master is commending the manager for taking a situation that was achieved unrighteously and using it for good. Not only was God’s law being honored, but the burden of the debtors lightened, and the manager would have someone to turn to when he was in need.
Trade Unrighteous Interest For Grace
Jesus makes his point clear by saying the people of the world are better at dealing with one another than God’s people are. He instructs us to make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.
6 Does this mean that God wants us to make dirty money and bless people with it? No, of course not. Verses eight and nine are a call to repentance. Jesus desires that we live in a way that honors God, and as a result this makes life better for everyone. The manager’s actions were not enough to save his job, he is unable to do that in his own power, but the master did commend him for doing what was right.
The Pharisees of the day would place extra laws and burdens on people, which God never intended. When the Pharisees would keep these laws better than everyone else it would lead to pride, self-importance, and looking down on others. Jesus is calling the Pharisees to repent and honor God.
Even in today’s church we place the same kinds of unnecessary burdens on ourselves and others. What unnecessary burdens are you placing on yourself or others? How can you trade that unrighteous interest for grace?
Serve God and Not Money
Being a true disciple is a matter of the heart. In verses ten through thirteen, Jesus says that a person who is unfaithful or dishonest with very little, will be unfaithful or dishonest with much. He goes on to ask two piercing questions: If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
7 If someone sees that you are using what they have given you in unfaithful and dishonest ways, for your own interest, they would be foolish to continue giving to you. The Pharisees were guilty of doing this with their money and power over others. They did not love God, but were only interested in what they could get from him. Jesus plainly tells us, No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
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God entrusted the Pharisees to shepherd his people, and blessed them with great material wealth. But, they stewarded both of these things unrighteously. God’s law is a blessing, but they used it for their own self-interest. How could God trust them with the heavenly blessing of salvation through Jesus, when they couldn’t even handle the Law, which was to point to our need for salvation?
God Knows Your Heart
The Pharisees, who were lovers of money,
9 knew these remarks were directed towards them, and they took offense. They were often a part of the wealthy class, compared to the vast majority who were poor. Wealth was seen as a blessing from God and sign of his approval, and the Pharisees would use this to justify their actions. Even unrighteous wealth was justified this way. But Jesus calls them out saying, You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
10 Are there things God has blessed you with that you use for self-gain rather than blessing others? Thank God for his blessing, and ask him to show you ways to bless others.
Evidence of a Divided Heart
In verse seventeen Jesus says, But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.
11 He then teaches that Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
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Moses gave the Israelites the concession of divorce because of humanity’s hardness of heart.
13 People did not have to face the unfaithfulness or abuse of others without recourse. However, the Pharisees twisted these laws to justify divorce for almost any reason. If a man was tired of his wife and wanted another, he could divorce her and it was seen as lawful.
The way the Pharisees treated God’s Law, bending it to their own needs and using it to have power over others, was evidence they had a divided heart.This casual dismissal of God’s commands has eternal consequences, which Jesus illustrates in his final, sobering parable.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
There was a rich man who had much excess, and a poor man named Lazarus who had nothing and no one. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
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The rich man begged for Lazarus to come down to Hades to put a single drop of water on his tongue because he was in anguish from the flames. But Abraham replied, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
15 Abraham went on to say that there was no way anyone could pass from Heaven to Hades or vice versa.
The rich man pleaded for Lazarus to be sent to warn his brothers so they would not be sent to this place of torment. Abraham responded, They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.
16 The rich man exclaimed No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.
17 Then the parable ends with Abraham saying, If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.
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Consequences of a Divided Heart
Much like the parable of the Prodigal son, this parable ties together all of Jesus’ teaching so far. The rich man who enjoyed the seat of honor at many feast, was dressed in the best robes, and seemingly had God’s approval, as evidenced by his wealth, was not worthy to be at Abraham’s side. Instead,
Conclusion
In this section of Luke, Jesus wants us to examine ourselves for evidence of a divided heart.
- Are you like a dishonest manager placing unrighteous burdens on yourself or others? Ask God to give you his heart of grace towards yourself and others, and find one way you can extend grace to someone this week. Remember God does not want to burden us, but free us. Jesus said
my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
19 - Are you like the Pharisees, twisting and ignoring God’s law for your own interest? Are there areas of your life that tend to keep God at arms length? Ask God to help you surrender those things to him, so you can live a life that fully honors him. When we live a life that honors God those around us are blessed too.
- Perhaps you feel like the rich man who took God’s blessing for granted, and became blind to those in need who were right in front of him? Pray for God to show you someone in need. Find a way you can share with them the things that God has blessed you with.
When we surrender our divided hearts to God we find the freedom to serve Him wholly and joyfully.