Luke 16:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Truly, there is no comparison to such stewardship, where a person willingly gives up fleeting, worldly possessions to gain eternal and unalterable treasures, thereby ensuring peace and security in this life.

Let us consider what has been commanded of us and how we ought to fulfill these directives. We are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and serve those who are suffering; we should not disregard those who are destitute, those left stranded in their misfortune; rather than worrying about our own circumstances or how we will sustain ourselves, we must act. Yet, we often lead lives that are utterly incongruous: we overlook the unfortunate and the needy, dismissing those who find themselves in hardship. Driven by vanity, we waste resources on trivial pursuits, supporting a throng of shameless flatterers and attracting a multitude of idle, unfortunate souls. We squander our resources to satiate beasts or to appease magicians, continuously indulging in one form of decadence after another. The paradox is alarming: where our generosity could yield immeasurable rewards and eternal salvation, we clutch our money tightly, reluctant even to part with the smallest coins; conversely, when the expenditure is sinful, leading to numerous penalties and divine wrath, we swiftly open our purses, letting our wealth escape freely. This behavior reflects not the mindset of faithful servants awaiting their Master but rather that of reckless youth engaging in unrestrained revelry. If you, dear listener, desire to witness the reverence of a steward who prudently manages his entrusted responsibilities, consider the profound words of David, where he beseeches God, ‘Tell me, O Lord, my end and the number of my days’ (Psalm 38:5).

However, when we act as unfaithful stewards, unjustly retaining for ourselves what is meant for others, we should not persist in this inhumanity, but rather share with the poor, so that they may receive us into eternal dwellings. In our interpretation of this parable, no excessive, superficial, or mocking elements will emerge in the explanation.

Parables convey profound truths indirectly and symbolically, enriching us, provided we grasp their general essence. We ought not to delve too deeply into every detail of a parable, lest elaborate discussions tire even the most eager listeners with unnecessary inquiries. For example, if one attempts to dissect who the individual with a steward was, who might have been the accuser, who incurred debts, or why one owed oil and another wheat, the argument quickly becomes convoluted and excessive. Hence, not all elements of the parable serve equally in elucidating its message; they are meant to create an image of a significant theme that imparts a lesson for the benefit of the audience. The essence of the parable is that ‘The God of all desires that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.’ Therefore, ‘He also gave the law to help,’ as the prophet states. By "law" here, we refer not merely to that which was paired with Moses, but to all divinely inspired Scripture, which guides us towards goodness and salvation. Thus, the Lord of all calls us to remain steadfast in our pursuits of virtue and to aspire towards a more holy existence, detaching ourselves from worldly distractions and from the allure of wealth and its pleasures, so that we might serve Him wholeheartedly and with single-minded devotion. As stated in the psalmist's words, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ Furthermore, the Savior directly instructs those who possess worldly riches: ‘Sell your possessions and give to the needy; create for yourselves wallets that do not wear out: an eternal treasure, unchanging in heaven.’ This command is aimed at our salvation, but human hearts are frail; we often cling to earthly treasures, reluctant to forsake the comforts of wealth. We tend to pride ourselves on empty accolades, allow the praise of flatterers to soothe us, desire grand possessions, and prize fleeting honor above all else. Understanding this tendency, the Savior lamented: ‘How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!’ He further pronounced, ‘It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ As long as one is engrossed in riches and indulgences, they neglect piety in the eyes of God. Wealth can lead to moral decay, planting seeds of sensuality in the hearts of its possessors. But is there no hope for the wealthy, no pathway to partake in the saints' assurance? Are they wholly deprived of God's grace? Is their fate akin to that prepared for the devil and his angels? Not at all; for through this parable, the Savior reveals their chance for redemption. By God’s providence, they have been entrusted with material wealth and appointed as stewards of the poor. Yet, they misuse this stewardship, squandering what the Lord has provided, pursuing personal pleasures and transient accolades, forgetting the command: ‘Open your hand to your brother, to the needy.’ Indeed, Christ, our Savior, teaches us, ‘Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.’ However, they often display no mercy towards their fellow humans, instead nurturing their own pride. It is this very pride that will be their indictment before the Almighty. As death draws near, they will be compelled to relinquish their stewardship, detaching themselves from earthly affairs, for from the clutches of death, no one can escape. What, then, does Christ wish for them? While still in this world, if they are unwilling to distribute all their wealth, they should at the very least use a portion of it to gain friends and witnesses to their charitable deeds, particularly those who have benefited from their generosity, so that when their earthly possessions are gone, they might find refuge in their eternal dwellings. For it is impossible for generosity towards the poor to remain unrewarded. Therefore, whether one gives away all their riches or merely a fraction, they will undoubtedly enrich their soul. Thus, the conduct befitting the saints, worthy of the highest praise and adorned from on high, is not to hoard earthly belongings, but to share with the needy, thus amassing treasures in heaven and gaining purses that do not age, treasures that will not diminish. Following this, one should devise a way to win over those who are especially dear to God, sharing portions of their wealth and alleviating the burdens of the afflicted, that they may partake in the blessings bestowed upon them. Similarly, wise Paul encourages those fond of wealth: ‘Let your surplus meet their need, so that their surplus may also meet yours.’ Therefore, it is incumbent upon us, if we are to be just, to keep our focus on what is to come, to recall the words of Scripture that clearly declare, ‘We shall all stand before the judgment of Christ, receiving recompense for our deeds in the body, according to what we have done, whether good or bad.’ If we fear the fierce and unyielding flames, let us remember God, who calls us to show love to our brethren, to bear the burdens of the sick, to extend our hands to the needy, and to honor the saints, of whom Christ said: ‘Whoever welcomes you welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.’ For charity towards our fellow man is not without value and benefit, as the Savior Himself teaches, ‘Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones will certainly not lose their reward.’ For our generous Savior grants abundantly; to whom, along with the Holy Spirit, be glory and might to God the Father, forever and ever, Amen.

There is no indication of any covert dealings at play. The steward’s strategy involved impressing his master's debtors by reducing their debts significantly—one by fifty and the other by twenty units out of a hundred—hoping to earn their goodwill and secure a place in their homes out of thankfulness. The specific amounts, whether there were only two debtors or more, are irrelevant to the essence of the parable. The core message is that the steward successfully accomplished his aim: he ensured his own security for the future.

Through them, God Himself acknowledges your charitable gifts, rather than retaining those resources within the grasp of worldly interests to which they once belonged. This act does not signify betrayal to the one who entrusted you with a portion of his wealth or to the secular realm from which these riches derive; rather, it represents loyalty to the true Sovereign and Lord, who holds all of creation and its bounty. It is through such integrity in handling the assets of others, taken from the world, that one gains the Lord’s confidence to manage personal belongings, the treasures of God's kingdom. As this trust is nurtured, it leads to the bestowal of even greater blessings within that kingdom. Transitioning into the kingdom of God requires one to detach from the kingdom of this world; one cannot serve both God and wealth.

These allies, naturally, could only be the poor and the needy, whose charitable acts grant them access to the everlasting dwellings.

The gradual impoverishment of the land of Palestine, exacerbated by the financial exploitation of the Romans and Herod’s lineage, is vividly illustrated throughout the Gospels. In Christ's dialogues, terms related to debtors, creditors, and imprisonment emerge frequently. This chaotic system, which was progressively dismantling the empire as a whole, particularly affected agrarian communities like the Jewish populace. Essentials such as olive oil and wheat were borrowed from affluent households (Luke 16:6). Due to a lack of resources, instead of plowing the fields, many resorted to digging with pickaxes. “What shall I do?” lamented the impoverished landowner, “I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg” (Luke 16:3). The Gospels consistently depict this dire situation faced by the Jewish community under Roman authority, a plight that deteriorated further during the latter years of Christ’s earthly ministry, culminating in a severe financial crisis that erupted across the empire five years after the crucifixion.