October 28

Luke 16; Luke 17:1-10 (biblegateway.com)

Faithful Stewardship and Humble Service

As Jesus continues toward Jerusalem, He teaches vital lessons about stewardship, compassion, and humility. In the Parable of the Unjust Steward, a dishonest manager uses foresight to secure his future. Jesus does not commend his deceit but his wisdom, urging believers to use earthly resources with eternal purpose. No one can serve two masters, “You cannot serve God and money.”

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (16:19–31) contrasts earthly wealth with eternal reality. The rich man lives in luxury while Lazarus suffers, yet after death their positions reverse. The story warns that our choices now carry eternal consequences and that God’s Word is already sufficient to lead us to repentance and faith.

In 17:1-10, Jesus warns against causing others to stumble and commands a forgiving heart. Even faith as small as a mustard seed can accomplish great things when placed in God. He concludes with the Parable of the Unworthy Servant, reminding believers that obedience is not optional; it is the rightful response of those who belong to Him. True faith expresses itself in humility, forgiveness, and faithful service.

Luke 16 — Faithfulness, Stewardship, and Eternal Accountability

After the three parables of mercy in chapter 15, which revealed God’s joy in seeking and restoring the lost, Luke 16 turns the focus to stewardship and responsibility. Jesus now speaks primarily to His disciples, though the Pharisees are still listening. If chapter 15 displays the generosity of divine grace, this chapter demonstrates the seriousness of human accountability. Those who have received God’s mercy must manage their earthly and spiritual resources wisely, for their choices reveal the true state of their hearts.

Jesus began by telling a parable about a rich man who had a manager accused of wasting his possessions (v. 1). In ancient estates, such managers handled business affairs and represented their masters in financial matters. When the master learned of his manager’s dishonesty, he called him in and demanded an account, warning that his position was about to be taken away (v. 2). Facing dismissal and too proud to beg or perform manual labor, the steward devised a plan to secure favor with others once he lost his job (v. 3–4). He summoned his master’s debtors and reduced their bills. One who owed a hundred measures of oil was told to write fifty, and another who owed a hundred measures of wheat was told to write eighty (v. 5–7). In doing so, the manager sought to make friends who would later receive him into their homes.

Surprisingly, when the master learned what had been done, he commended the dishonest steward, not for his ethics, but for his shrewdness (v. 8). The man had acted decisively, using the little time he had left to prepare for his future. Jesus’ point was that worldly people often show more practical wisdom in pursuing temporary goals than believers do in preparing for eternal ones. The “sons of this world” plan carefully for short-term security, while the “sons of light” can sometimes fail to show the same foresight in spiritual matters. Believers are therefore called to invest their time, influence, and possessions in ways that produce eternal fruit, such as helping others, advancing the gospel, and bringing glory to God.

Jesus makes a second application in verses 10-12. He taught that those who are faithful in little will be faithful in much, and those who are dishonest in small matters cannot be trusted with greater things (v. 10). In this way, He turned a negative example into a positive challenge to be as wise and intentional in spiritual stewardship as the world is in earthly pursuits. Everything we possess, including money, abilities, and opportunities, is a temporary trust from God, meant to be managed with integrity, generosity, and an eye toward eternity.

Jesus concluded this teaching with a decisive truth: no one can serve two masters. Every person must ultimately give allegiance to one or the other (v. 13). Devotion to God and devotion to wealth cannot coexist, for each demands the heart’s full loyalty. The believer must choose whom to serve. Jesus personified money as a rival “master,” revealing how easily it becomes an idol that competes with God for affection and trust. The way to serve God rather than money is to view one’s resources as tools for His kingdom, using temporary means to accomplish eternal purposes.

Money itself is not evil, but it is a deceptive master. It promises control, comfort, and security, yet it can never give peace, joy, or eternal life. Those enslaved to wealth often measure worth by possessions, but true value is found only in devotion to God. A wise disciple examines the heart by asking: Do I trust God to provide, or do I depend on what I own? Does my spending reflect eternal priorities? Christ’s call is clear: let God, not wealth, rule your life.

This truth exposed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who loved money and mocked Jesus for His teaching (v. 14). They sought human approval and equated material prosperity with divine favor. Jesus told them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men,” yet reminded them that God sees the heart (v. 15). What people value most, such as status, recognition, or wealth, is often meaningless in God’s sight. Genuine righteousness grows from inward faith and humility, not outward success or appearance. In the end, it is far better to be poor in the world’s eyes and rich toward God than to gain wealth and lose one’s soul.

After confronting the Pharisees’ love of money, Jesus clarified the relationship between the Law and the gospel. He declared that “the Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it” (v. 16). This does not mean the Law was abolished but that its fulfillment had arrived in Christ. John the Baptist marked the turning point between the old covenant era and the dawn of the kingdom. Under the new covenant, entrance into God’s kingdom requires personal faith and repentance rather than ritual or lineage.

Jesus added that “it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void” (v. 17). The moral truth of God’s Word remains unchanging; the gospel does not cancel righteousness but reveals its true foundation in Christ. God’s standards have not weakened; they are fulfilled in Jesus, who empowers believers through the Spirit to live in obedience from the heart.

Verse 18, addressing divorce and remarriage, reminds His hearers that God’s moral law still applies. Jesus reaffirmed the sanctity of marriage as designed by God, correcting the Pharisees’ loose interpretation of divorce. To divorce without biblical cause and remarry, He said, is to commit adultery. This statement underlines that the kingdom’s call to righteousness reaches into personal and relational life. Faithfulness to God includes faithfulness to one’s vows and relationships.

Together, these verses reveal that Jesus did not dismiss the Law but fulfilled it perfectly, transforming external obedience into inward holiness. The kingdom of God calls for wholehearted devotion, pressing in, holding fast, and living by the unchanging truth of God’s Word.

This warning about divided loyalty leads directly into the next parable, where Jesus illustrates His teaching with a vivid contrast between a rich man and a poor beggar named Lazarus (v. 19–31). Through this parable, Jesus reveals that what people value in this life often blinds them to what truly matters in eternity.

Jesus told a parable contrasting two men whose lives and destinies could not have been more different (v. 19). One was a rich man clothed in purple and fine linen, living in daily luxury, while a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate covered with sores, longing to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his wounds (v. 20–21). In life, the rich man enjoyed abundance without compassion; the poor man suffered, unnoticed and unaided.

Eventually, both died, and the great reversal of eternity revealed the truth of their hearts. The beggar was carried by angels to Abraham’s side, a picture of paradise and fellowship with the faithful, while the rich man found himself in torment in Hades (v. 22–23). From that place of agony, he looked up and saw Lazarus afar off and cried for mercy, asking Abraham to send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue (v. 24). But Abraham reminded him that during his lifetime, he had received good things while Lazarus received evil, and now the conditions were reversed. Moreover, between them was a great chasm fixed so that no one could cross from one side to the other (v. 25–26).

Desperate, the rich man pleaded that Lazarus be sent to warn his five brothers, lest they come to the same place of torment (v. 27–28). Abraham replied that they already had Moses and the prophets; if they would not listen to God’s Word, they would not be persuaded even if someone rose from the dead (v. 29–31). This solemn ending anticipates the unbelief that would persist even after Jesus’ own resurrection. The parable is not merely about wealth but about stewardship, faith, and spiritual blindness. The rich man’s sin was not his prosperity but his selfish indifference and failure to heed the truth that had been given to him. Lazarus’s faith, though unspoken, is implied by his inclusion in Abraham’s fellowship. The story warns that the opportunity to repent and believe is confined to this life; after death comes judgment.

Both parables in this chapter emphasize the same truth from different angles: life and resources are temporary trusts from God, and how one manages them reveals the condition of the heart. The unjust steward acted shrewdly for short-term gain, while the rich man ignored eternal realities altogether. Jesus called His followers to use the passing wealth of this world to invest in what lasts forever—truth, mercy, and the salvation of others.

Luke 16 stands as a strong affirmation of moral accountability. God’s sovereignty never cancels responsibility; each believer must choose faithfulness in both small and great matters. Salvation cannot be purchased by wealth or inherited by privilege but is received through faith expressed in obedience. Likewise, judgment is not arbitrary but the just consequence of one’s choices. The faithful steward and the compassionate disciple reflect a heart submitted to God, while negligence and self-indulgence reveal unbelief.

The challenge of Luke 16 is to live with eternity in view, and to handle possessions and opportunities as sacred trusts, to care for others as expressions of genuine faith, and to remember that earthly success means nothing if one’s soul is lost. The wise will prepare for eternity not by hoarding riches but by aligning their hearts with the will of the Master, for “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34).

Luke 17:1–10 — Faith, Forgiveness, and Humble Service

Following His teachings on stewardship and accountability in chapter 16, Jesus turned His attention to personal conduct within the community of believers. He warned His disciples about the danger of causing others to stumble and emphasized the need for continual forgiveness, genuine faith, and humble obedience. These verses mark an important shift in tone, from dealing with wealth and worldly responsibility to addressing relationships, attitudes, and faith in daily discipleship.

Jesus began by warning that temptations to sin are inevitable in a fallen world, but woe to the one through whom they come (v. 1). The Greek term skandalon refers to a stumbling block or trap that causes others to fall. While temptation is a universal reality, the one who deliberately leads others into sin, especially young believers, bears grave guilt before God. Jesus declared that it would be better for such a person to have a millstone tied around his neck and be cast into the sea than to cause one of these “little ones” to stumble (v. 2). This dramatic image underscores the seriousness of influencing others toward sin. Sin is a matter of personal choice, but leading others astray multiplies guilt. God holds individuals responsible not only for their own conduct but for how their example affects others.

Not only are Jesus’ followers not to cause others to sin, but they also are to counteract sin by forgiving others (v. 3-4). Jesus instructed His disciples to be vigilant both toward themselves and toward their brothers and sisters in the faith. If a fellow believer sins, they must lovingly rebuke him; if he repents, they must forgive. The call to forgiveness is not limited to one offense or even repeated wrongdoing. Jesus said, “If he sins against you seven times in a day and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him” (v. 4). The number seven symbolizes completeness, indicating that forgiveness should be continual, just as God’s mercy toward His children is unending. True forgiveness does not ignore sin but aims to restore fellowship whenever repentance is genuine.

To rebuke, then, is not to criticize every fault but to address sin with the goal of restoration. Before correcting another believer, one must examine the heart: Is the motive love? Am I willing to forgive? Without love and forgiveness, rebuke becomes judgment instead of grace. Unless rebuke is tied to forgiveness, it will not help the sinning person.

Hearing this, the apostles felt the weight of Jesus’ teaching and cried out, “Increase our faith!” (v. 5). They understood that such consistent forgiveness required spiritual strength beyond human nature. Jesus replied that even faith as small as a mustard seed could accomplish what seems impossible (v. 6). The power of faith lies not in its size but in its object, trust in the living God. Genuine faith, even if small, is alive and growing, capable of uprooting what seems immovable when it rests on God’s power. Faith is not passive belief but active obedience that deepens through daily dependence on the Lord.

To further clarify the posture of a true disciple, Jesus told a short parable about a servant who works in the field or tends the flock (v. 7–10). When the servant returns, the master does not immediately invite him to eat but expects him to serve first, preparing supper and waiting until the master has eaten. Only afterward does the servant take his meal. Jesus asked, “Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?” The implied answer is no. In the same way, believers, after doing all that God commands, should humbly say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.”

This is not a denial of God’s love for His children but a reminder that obedience is the believer’s rightful response to grace, not a way to earn it. Faithfulness to God is a privilege, not a platform for pride. Jesus’ parable corrects spiritual self-importance: no matter how much we serve, we owe everything to God’s mercy and strength.

These verses challenge every disciple to live with humility, faith, and grace. The Christian life involves resisting temptation, extending forgiveness, exercising faith, and serving without seeking recognition. The call to forgive reflects God’s own heart, and the call to serve reflects the humility of Christ Himself. Faith that endures and forgives is not self-generated but sustained by daily reliance on God’s Spirit.

In this short but profound section, Jesus teaches that discipleship is a lifelong journey marked by vigilance, mercy, faith, and humility. Temptations must be resisted, offenders forgiven, faith exercised, and service rendered in gratitude. True followers of Christ recognize that every act of obedience is a privilege of grace, and even after doing all, we stand before God as servants thankful to have been used for His glory.

Conclusion

Luke 16–17:1–10 challenges believers to live wisely, compassionately, and humbly in light of eternity. Jesus calls His followers to steward resources for heavenly reward, to forgive freely, and to walk in faith that depends wholly on God. Earthly wealth, status, or comfort fade quickly, but what is done for Christ endures forever.

For believers today, these chapters remind us that the Christian life is not about accumulation but about devotion; not about recognition but obedience. The faithful steward and humble servant both find joy not in gain, but in the pleasure of their Master, and living daily for the One who has promised eternal reward.