Parable of the Unjust Steward: Verse, Meaning & Lesson

The Parable of the Unjust Steward is in Luke 16:1–13. Jesus told this parable to illustrate that one should use material possessions prudently for the benefit of others and the Kingdom of God, rather than for selfish gain.

This guide gives you a complete summary of the Parable of the Unjust Steward, including the verses in Scripture, the meaning, and lessons that can be applied to the Christian life.

Note: This parable is also referred to as the Parable of the Shrewd Manager or Penitent Steward.

Parable of the Unjust Steward In Scripture

Luke 16:1–13 – Parable of the Unjust Steward

¹He also said to his disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions. ² He called him, and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’

³ “The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg. ⁴ I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from management, they may receive me into their houses.’ ⁵ Calling each one of his lord’s debtors to him, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe to my lord?’ ⁶ He said, ‘A hundred batos† of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ ⁷ Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred cors‡ of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

⁸ “His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light. ⁹ I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents. ¹⁰ He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. ¹¹ If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? ¹² If you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? ¹³ No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to one and despise the other. You aren’t able to serve God and Mammon.”

Read Luke 16

Parable of the Unjust Steward Meaning

The parable means that one should use material possessions prudently for the benefit of others and the Kingdom of God, rather than for selfish gain. Jesus used this metaphor to challenge listeners to consider their priorities and the eternal impact of their actions.

Facing dismissal, the steward cleverly reduces the debts of his master’s debtors to secure their favor for future support after he loses his job. The steward’s actions, while dishonest, show a keen understanding of how to secure his future. Jesus advises using worldly wealth to gain friends, so that when it is gone, one will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. This suggests that material resources should be used to serve others and God’s purposes.

The parable concludes with a lesson on faithfulness. If one cannot be trusted with little, they cannot be trusted with much. This applies to material wealth, which is considered “little” compared to the true riches of the Kingdom of God. The final verse of the parable sums up the entire lesson: no one can serve two masters, implying that one cannot serve both God and wealth. This is a call to prioritize spiritual values over material concerns and consider the eternal impact of their actions.

Parable of the Unjust Steward Lessons

Be faithful with what belongs to others

The main lesson from the parable emphasizes the importance of being trustworthy and responsible with the resources and responsibilities entrusted to us, reflecting the biblical principle that faithfulness in small things leads to trustworthiness in greater matters.

Don’t be wasteful

The parable also teaches the value of being prudent and wise with our resources, avoiding wastefulness, and making the most of what we have for the glory of God and the good of others.

You’ll give an account of your stewardship one day

It reminds Christians that they are accountable to God for how they manage what He has entrusted to them, whether it be time, talents, or treasures. Everything we have been given is a gift from God, so steward it wisely.

Make plans for your future

The unjust steward was forward-thinking, albeit for selfish reasons. Christians are encouraged to plan wisely for their future but with a focus on serving God and others.

Execute your plan without unnecessary delay

The parable also encourages taking decisive action and making the most of opportunities, especially when it comes to matters of faith and stewardship. Operating in this manner will cause a shift in focus on the eternal significance of your actions and decisions.

Summary of the Parable of the Unjust Steward

We hope you enjoyed this summary of the Parable of the Unjust Steward.

As you discovered, the Parable of the Unjust Steward appears in Luke 16:1–13. And the primary meaning of the parable is that one should use material possessions prudently for the benefit of others and the Kingdom of God, rather than for selfish gain. The life lessons include to be faithful with what belongs to others, don’t be wasteful, you’ll give account of your stewardship to God one day, make plans for your future by serving God and others, and execute your plan without unnecessary delay.