The parable of the unrighteous manager has discomfited preachers, Bible-teachers and commentators for ages – it looks as if Jesus commended dishonesty! Besides which, the standard interpretation that the point of the parable is to encourage shrewdness seems so ad-hoc and out of context. This paper discusses this difficult issue and suggests an alternative interpretation. It offers an understanding of Jesus’ intention that seeks to take due regard to its context in Luke’s gospel – both internal and external to the passage – the context, that is, of Jesus’ continual condemnation of self-righteousness….
The Parable of the Unrighteous Manager (800kB pdf)