On Judgment and Mercy
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Analyzing the tension between judgment and mercy, and the simple solution that even a dishonest steward can see.
Text: Luke 16:1-8
Date: 07/07/2024, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 156
Description:
After telling three powerful parables of redemption, repentance and restoration, Jesus turns to His disciples with a parable that serves as a practical commentary on the wisdom of depending on God's mercy. Considered by many to be one of Jesus' most difficult parables to interpret, we will hopefully find the opposite to be true. It is a simple parable in which a dishonest and discharged steward of a large estate uses his shrewdness to secure his future. The key to understanding the parable is to recognize the steward's wisdom in realizing two things he can depend on in his situation-- the master's judgment and the master's mercy. Therefore to try and defend himself would be fruitless and probably lead to jail or worse. The simple principle of the parable is that even though God's just judgment condemns us, our Heavenly Father is infinitely merciful. And therefore, despite our obvious guilt, has arranged for our salvation through the Crosswork of His Son, Jesus Christ. The question that is raised is whether you will be wise enough (as was this dishonest steward) to realize the inevitability of God's just judgment of your sins, and to bank your eschatological future on His mercy; or whether you will foolishly risk your eternity on your own "goodness".
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 16:1-8.
A. Context
B. The parable of the dishonest steward.
1. The accusation, vs. 1.
a. A message for disciples, Luke 15:1-3, 16:14.
b. Identifying the characters.
i. The landowner.
ii. The manager.
1) A paid employee.
2) A "salaried" employee.
iii. The charge.
1) What it says about the landowner.
2) The "prodigal" connection, Luke 15:13.
3) Dishonest or inept?
iv. Summary of the characters.
2. The firing, vs. 2.
a. The summons.
i. A beneficial silence.
ii. A shrewd silence.
b. When was he fired?
c. Turning in the books.
d. The significance of silence.
i. The landowner's silence.
ii. The essential distinction.
3. The dilemma, vs. 3.
a. A lamentable cry, Luke 12:17.
b. Two unacceptable options.
i. Too weak for manual labor.
ii. Too proud to beg.
c. Summary of the steward's dilemma.
4. The plan, vs. 4.
5. The desperate ploy, vs. 5-7.
a. The nature of the debtors, vs. 5a.
i. Summoning the debtors, Luke 15:26,28.
ii. The nature of the debt.
iii. The integrity of the debtors.
b. Adjusting the debt, vs. 5b-7.
i. The form of the plan.
1) Masking his dismissal.
2) A purposely redundant question.
ii. The debt of olive oil, vs. 5b-6.
iii. The debt of wheat, vs. 7.
6. The surprising commendation, vs. 8a.
a. Looking at the words.
i. Defining "commend".
ii. Defining "shrewdness".
b. Important aspects of the parable.
i. A commendation for shrewdness.
ii. A parable of worldly behavior.
iii. The judgment remains.
7. The proverb, vs. 8b.
a. A clear distinction.
i. The sons of this age.
ii. The sons of light, Matt. 8:11-12.
b. Maintaining a "worldly" perspective, Luke 16:14.
III. Application
A. The interpretation.
B. The tension between judgment and mercy, Eph. 2:8-9.
IV. Conclusion
