This verse refer to is part of a series of parables Jesus gave beginning in Luke chapter 15. There, in verse 2, the scribes and Pharisees murmured because Jesus received sinners and ate with them. Because of their superior attitude, Jesus went on to give the Parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Prodigal Son. The recurring theme in these is the recovery of something lost – a sheep, a coin and a son. Rather than feeling superior to the sinners Jesus ate with, they should have appreciated the work of recovering them from sinful lives.
He continues his point in chapter 16. There, he speaks of a rich man who had given the management of his wealth to a steward. However, this steward had “wasted his goods.” When the rich man heard of his poor stewardship, he called him said he would no longer be his steward. The steward determined to recover some of the rich man’s lost wealth and contacted those who owed the rich man. He reduced what they owed by 50% (verse 6), and then another by 20% (verse 7). The borrowers gladly complied.
After seeing this, the rich man of the parable commended the steward (verse 8). The second part of verse 8 is significant. It says, “for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” This is supported by Romans 3:2 where it says, “unto them were committed the oracles of God.” The point Jesus was making in all four parables was the unfaithfulness of the Pharisees. They were the children of light and were represented as the steward of this parable. However, unlike the steward of the parable, they did not attempt to recover any of the sinners that Jesus sat with.
Rather than appreciating the privilege of being the stewards of God (pictured by the parable’s rich man), the Pharisees mismanaged their responsibilities. In verse 8, Jesus said the steward of the parable was wiser than the children of light (the Pharisees).
The principle cited in verse 9 of using “the mammon of unrighteous” means to be faithful stewards of all the Lord has put in our hands. This includes a believer’s personal stewardship, the way we use our time, talents and resources. If we see them as really belonging to God and a privilege to be responsible for them, we will use them faithfully, for good and to God’s glory. If not, verse 11 asks, why then would He commit true riches to us? These riches are the reward offered to faithful believers, of glory, honor and immortality (Romans 2:7). The passage concludes by saying, “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (verser13).
God did bless Abraham, David and Solomon with wealth. But the point was, how did they use it? There is no inherent righteousness or unrighteousness in wealth. But a wise steward will use it to honor God.
Jesus’ point in the entire parable is more about trust than about wealth. The rich man’s steward had misused the rich man’s wealth for his own benefit. Therefore, his gain became “unrighteous” wealth. In verse 9, Jesus was not commending the steward’s mishandling of his master’s wealth. He was conveying a general truth of using our present resources wisely, so when literal wealth fails, our investment in God’s service will bring future glory.
In verses 10 and 11, he said if someone cannot be faithful and honest in the little things of this life, how can God trust them with future glory? He comes back to the lesson of the unjust steward in verse 12 and adds that if you cannot be faithful with another man’s wealth, why would anyone (in this case – God) give you your own wealth? He concludes the lesson in verse 13 that “No servant can serve two masters…you cannot serve God and mammon (or wealth).” The word “serve” means “be a slave to,” or “be in bondage to.”
The point Jesus was making is not that wealth is evil, but that the steward had misused another man’s wealth and his gain became unrighteous. If used properly money, time, talents, etc., are tools for good. The goal of every dedicated Christian should be to use all the resources at their disposal to serve and honor the heavenly Father and His beloved son.