Scriptures Mostly Misunderstood/Misinterpreted Part 3.

Luke 16  Parable  Of The Unjust Steward.

The misinterpretation of this parable largely stems from the misunderstanding of the 8th verse which reads "And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light."

Note: It is the lord of that servant that commended him and not the Lord Jesus. The rich man who is the master of the unjust steward was referred to as 'lord' 3 times in the parable (see vs 3, 5 and 8)

The lord of that servant commended his shrewdness and the Lord Jesus in telling this parable premised such an unexpected commendation on the fact that the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. The world loves it's own.

 John 15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

 8  And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

Note: 

(1.) The word translated as 'generation' in this verse is the word 'genea' in the original greek and it means by implication an age (the period or the persons): - age, generation, nation, time.

Metaphorically a group of men very like each other in endowments, pursuits, character (especially in a bad sense, a perverse nation).

It is the same word translated as 'generation' in Acts 2:40 where Peter said "save yourselves from this untoward(crooked, froward/perverse) generation.

It is the same word translated as 'nation' in Philippians 2:15 where Paul speaks of being blameless & harmless as the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.

(2.) Secondly, the word translated as 'wiser' in the verse is 'Phronimos' in the original greek and means: intelligent, prudent, i.e. mindful of one's interests, intelligence or mental acquirement); in a bad sense conceited.

It is the same word translated as wise in 1 Corinthians 4:10 where Paul in warning the Corinthian saints about the wisdom of this world says "We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised"

Earlier in chapter three he had warned thus: "Let no man deceive himself. 

If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 

And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." - 1 Corinthians 3:18-20.

The thoughts/reasoning/calculation of the unjust steward was indeed vain and foolish though commended/esteemed as shrewdness/wisdom by his lord.

 4  "I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses."

If he was unfaithful in administering his lord's resources how did he expect that his lord's debtors whose favour he was trying to curry by reducing their debt, would receive him into their own habitations/estate when he is sacked/put out of his job?  How would any of those men commit to him seeing how he wasted his lord's resources and was unfaithful in managing his debts?

The Lord indeed spoke ironically when he said in vs 9 of the parable "And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations."

In the next/following verses he went ahead to reveal the foolishness of such a thought as expressed and resolved by the unjust steward earlier in vs 4.

 10  He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11  If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12  And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall 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 the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

The unjust steward was trying to serve his lord and himself(his own interests too) & it didn't work as such a combination is impossible you will either satisfy/please one & displease/render a disservice to the other. We cannot serve God and our own interests. 

Those who serve their own interests or belly(appetite/craving), serve not the Lord Jesus Christ even if they profess to serve the Lord and are regarded by men as the servants of the Lord - Romans 16:18.

Finally when Jesus ended this parable, verse 14 tells us how the Pharisees who were covetous derided him. 

Of course the Pharisees who were covetous derided Jesus because they understood the import of the words of Jesus after the parable, that he exposed the foolishness of the covetous practices of the unjust steward and also spoke ironically of his wisdom/shrewdness in seeking to be received into everlasting habitations by others when he was unfaithful in that which was committed to his trust.

Indeed that which is highly esteemed/commendable amongst men is an abomination in the sight of God.