Sunday in Week 10 of Pentecost
Daily Readings
Joshua 6:15-27 Acts 22:30-23:11 Mark 2:1-12Morning and Evening Psalms
69 70-72Higher Things ReflectionThe master commended the dishonest manager.” (St. Luke 16:8a)How do you deal with the rich master (who is obviously the Lord) commending the dishonest manager for his shrewd dishonesty? God does not approve of sin. In reality, this story is one that Jesus tells describing the saving Gospel coming to us, His lowly debtors.
You and I have gigantic bills. We owe the Lord more than we can ever pay Him. We are the ones who have our bills slashed. And, believe it or not, Jesus is the Unjust Steward – the Dishonest Manager.
What? Jesus – dishonest? Jesus – unjust? But wait. Don’t get caught up in this title; perhaps the better title would be “the Merciful Steward.”
The scribes and Pharisees, religious leaders of the Jews, were accusing Jesus of wastefulness. He wasted His time and energy with public sinners. Jesus would teach and eat with tax collectors, adulterers, and others who had bad reputations. He welcomed them, in order to teach God’s Law and Gospel. He was (and is) the Steward, tearing up their bills and freeing them of their eternal indebtedness.
The Jewish leaders are upset with Jesus, an Unjust Steward, since they believe that He is not tending to those who deserve His time and teaching. They consider Jesus to be contaminating Himself by associating with lowlifes who are so indebted to God that they can never earn His favor. So Jesus makes the point: “You think I’m unjust in My managing? I’m dishonest and wasteful? Then I’ll show you ‘waste’! I’m going to squander unlimited mercy on these ‘sinners!’”
You and I have racked up an astronomical debt of sin and rebellion against our Rich Master, our Heavenly Father. But thanks be to God! He does not want us rotting in prison. He praises His Steward who has taken our bill and actually paid it in full.
When He bore the scourge of the whip and the piercing of the nails, when He endured the cruel death on the cross, He was taking your bill and marking it – not simply a reduction in what you owe – but signing it as paid in full!
Jesus, our Great Steward, has indeed been faithful in delivering to you wealth that you have not earned. Dr. Luther had it “right on the money” when he taught us to confess, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to Him…”
Praise God for the work of this Great Steward Jesus Christ!
“Let Your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of Your humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.” (Collect for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity)