Rev. Dustin ParkerA Scandalous Sermon
Concordia Lutheran Church
Pentecost 18, September 19, 2010
Why Praise that Which is Unfair?
Luke 16:1-15
† In Jesus Name †
Having become justified by His grace, may we celebrate the mercy of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Spirit revives and renews us as we hear His gospel and share in His feast of victory! AMEN!
He Commend/Praise Him?
Today's gospel is best described as scandalous. So scandalous that were it to actually happen today, there would be a segment on s60 Minutes about it.
There is of course, the minor scandal of the steward's actions. A steward the held a position equivalent to a trust manager, or the operations officer of a corporation. His actions in forgiving debts, in order to make friends is definitely a scandal on par with any of the recent business or government scandals of this day.
It is a bigger scandal to hear the rich man praising the steward! What would you want to do with someone who dealt that unfairly with what you have? Yet it's their – when the rich man reviewed the accounts of the steward, the rich man commended him, he praised him for his shrewdness, for his wise actions. Can you imagine a board of directors of a company giving its CEO a huge bonus for wrecking their company? Don't we get upset at how unfair that is? This is that kind of scandal, as the rich man commends, he praises publicly this... steward.
There is something even more scandalous, seen in whom presents this story, the one who holds up the shrewd nature of the steward and those like him as an example. It boggles my mind, and when I was young, I wondered who managed to sneak this story into the gospel of Luke. Does it make sense that Jesus praises that which is os patently unfair? Why praise that which is unfair? Why hold up as an example that which is so unjust, so scandalous?
It could only be more scandalous if someone said that Jesus was like the steward, or if Jesus was the steward!
Why Does this parable irk us so?
This parable seems so unbelievable – it grates on my nerves, I want the steward to face justice, my kind of justice. He shouldn't just get fired, he shouldn't just feel the wrath of his master. I can't but help but see him screwing his master, in order to make sure he doesn't have to do manual labor or beg for the rest of his life.
He is unjust – and yet that is what he is praised for, that is for which he receives condemnation! It's not fair, and rather than being addressed in scripture, it seems that scripture praises this kind of action. Even our society would have a bit of a problem with how unfair this story is, so why do we see Jesus holding it up as an example of wisdom? What about this advice about making friends for eternity by means of unrighteousness?
It seems so scandalous! It seems so wrong to praise that which is unjust!
Let's Look at the Steward
What does this steward do that has anything to worth praising?
His management of the assets of the rich man is done in such a way he is accused of wasting those assets. Literally his title is translated as house lawyer – we would call it having full power of attorney today – he is the executor of the trust. This steward is accused of squandering the assets, (we'll look a this charge closer in Bible study btw) and those accusations are brought before the master, before the rich man.
Accused, the master calls for the audit – he is asked to prove the quality of his work. But there must be some suspicion already – for the master says in verse 2 that the steward cannot be steward any longer, he will be removed from his position. Is there anything good there? Doesn't look like it!
Realism sets in, and the steward realizes his only hope must come from relationships he can create, in the little time he has left. Then, having helped these people, he might be received and welcomed by them, and not be alone and without any provision. Think about it – how many of you, if someone cut your mortgage in half – wouldn't let the guy sleep on your couch for a while? Or maybe turn your garage into a small apartment, or let him live on your property in a borrowed RV? IF you would do that for a little debt forgiveness- what would you do if he forgave it all?
Who are those called to settle their debts?
I think we have to understand something, in order to “get” this parable. To often I think we want to put ourselves in the place of the master, We can't understand the master's actions, and that might give us an idea of who the rich man/master is.
I don't think we all want to admit to being the unjust steward either, for which of us wants to admit to being that unfair? We can't be neutral observers either, though I think that is the role we would like to claim- well either that role, the role of prosecuting attorney, or perhaps better yet – the role of Judge Roy Bean – the hanging judge!
But what is our role was that of the people that the steward called in to work on the our loans that were due? What if we were the ones whose debts were forgiven? Does that make a difference on whether we just the steward as being unfair? Does that minimize the scandal to some extent?
Or does it still seem not right? I mean, the steward has the right to forgive your mortgage, your car loan and your credit card bills – and as long as its legal, its ok – right? How many would let the steward forgive your debt, and let him worry about how ethical it was? His responsibility, and he did it – so everything is ok?
Or is it still scandalous?
Would it make more sense.. if the steward was Christ?
He had the authority
He was accused
He gave account
He was received afterwards
He bound people to him by forgiving our debt
A few moments ago, I said the greatest scandal of this was that Jesus held this steward up as an example. That his shrewd nature in providing for himself a family was praised by Jesus, and that only if the steward was Jesus, could this be anymore scandalous.
Well it is scandalous, and I think you might have seen here I am going – this scenario could describe that which Jesus endured, that which he did.
He was the one in whom was invested the authority of God, and his actions were considered wasting away that which God have given him. The pharisees are the ones who “reported” him, as he ate with sinners, with tax collectors and harlots. Why would a man of God invest himself in their lives, when he could invest himself in theirs?
He was called to account, and he knew he would be. That judgment, that being “terminated” was obvious to Jesus, as he prophesied about it often.
In view of that “termination” Jesus did call in those who owed the rich man debts – and he did cancel our debts – not just 50 or 80 percent – but completely. And those who were forgiven received him gladly, even with great celebration! His forgiven our debt is the reason we gather and celebrate with Him here in our midst – as we feast! Even as we recognize that he was fully terminated!....
How can the Master praise his wisdom? Because in forgiving debt, the kingdom grew, That is one of the paradoxes that astounds people – God purifies His people – not by punishing them, nor by terminating them, but by terminating the one steward who was perfect, who was pure, who was unfairly accused of sin. He does this out of love, out of a desire to be received by us, as He pours His Spirit into us, and cleanses and purifies and set us apart for his work.
The master praises the steward, and at the end, every knee will bow, every tongue will praise Him as they confess that Jesus Christ is not just steward of all, but Lord of all!
And with our debts forgiven, we receive Him into our lives, into our homes, knowing His peace.... the incredible peace that is the riches of God's glory in Christ. AMEN?
Pentecost 18, September 19, 2010
Why Praise that Which is Unfair?
Luke 16:1-15
† In Jesus Name †
Having become justified by His grace, may we celebrate the mercy of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Spirit revives and renews us as we hear His gospel and share in His feast of victory! AMEN!
He Commend/Praise Him?
Today's gospel is best described as scandalous. So scandalous that were it to actually happen today, there would be a segment on s60 Minutes about it.
There is of course, the minor scandal of the steward's actions. A steward the held a position equivalent to a trust manager, or the operations officer of a corporation. His actions in forgiving debts, in order to make friends is definitely a scandal on par with any of the recent business or government scandals of this day.
It is a bigger scandal to hear the rich man praising the steward! What would you want to do with someone who dealt that unfairly with what you have? Yet it's their – when the rich man reviewed the accounts of the steward, the rich man commended him, he praised him for his shrewdness, for his wise actions. Can you imagine a board of directors of a company giving its CEO a huge bonus for wrecking their company? Don't we get upset at how unfair that is? This is that kind of scandal, as the rich man commends, he praises publicly this... steward.
There is something even more scandalous, seen in whom presents this story, the one who holds up the shrewd nature of the steward and those like him as an example. It boggles my mind, and when I was young, I wondered who managed to sneak this story into the gospel of Luke. Does it make sense that Jesus praises that which is os patently unfair? Why praise that which is unfair? Why hold up as an example that which is so unjust, so scandalous?
It could only be more scandalous if someone said that Jesus was like the steward, or if Jesus was the steward!
Why Does this parable irk us so?
This parable seems so unbelievable – it grates on my nerves, I want the steward to face justice, my kind of justice. He shouldn't just get fired, he shouldn't just feel the wrath of his master. I can't but help but see him screwing his master, in order to make sure he doesn't have to do manual labor or beg for the rest of his life.
He is unjust – and yet that is what he is praised for, that is for which he receives condemnation! It's not fair, and rather than being addressed in scripture, it seems that scripture praises this kind of action. Even our society would have a bit of a problem with how unfair this story is, so why do we see Jesus holding it up as an example of wisdom? What about this advice about making friends for eternity by means of unrighteousness?
It seems so scandalous! It seems so wrong to praise that which is unjust!
Let's Look at the Steward
What does this steward do that has anything to worth praising?
His management of the assets of the rich man is done in such a way he is accused of wasting those assets. Literally his title is translated as house lawyer – we would call it having full power of attorney today – he is the executor of the trust. This steward is accused of squandering the assets, (we'll look a this charge closer in Bible study btw) and those accusations are brought before the master, before the rich man.
Accused, the master calls for the audit – he is asked to prove the quality of his work. But there must be some suspicion already – for the master says in verse 2 that the steward cannot be steward any longer, he will be removed from his position. Is there anything good there? Doesn't look like it!
Realism sets in, and the steward realizes his only hope must come from relationships he can create, in the little time he has left. Then, having helped these people, he might be received and welcomed by them, and not be alone and without any provision. Think about it – how many of you, if someone cut your mortgage in half – wouldn't let the guy sleep on your couch for a while? Or maybe turn your garage into a small apartment, or let him live on your property in a borrowed RV? IF you would do that for a little debt forgiveness- what would you do if he forgave it all?
Who are those called to settle their debts?
I think we have to understand something, in order to “get” this parable. To often I think we want to put ourselves in the place of the master, We can't understand the master's actions, and that might give us an idea of who the rich man/master is.
I don't think we all want to admit to being the unjust steward either, for which of us wants to admit to being that unfair? We can't be neutral observers either, though I think that is the role we would like to claim- well either that role, the role of prosecuting attorney, or perhaps better yet – the role of Judge Roy Bean – the hanging judge!
But what is our role was that of the people that the steward called in to work on the our loans that were due? What if we were the ones whose debts were forgiven? Does that make a difference on whether we just the steward as being unfair? Does that minimize the scandal to some extent?
Or does it still seem not right? I mean, the steward has the right to forgive your mortgage, your car loan and your credit card bills – and as long as its legal, its ok – right? How many would let the steward forgive your debt, and let him worry about how ethical it was? His responsibility, and he did it – so everything is ok?
Or is it still scandalous?
Would it make more sense.. if the steward was Christ?
He had the authority
He was accused
He gave account
He was received afterwards
He bound people to him by forgiving our debt
A few moments ago, I said the greatest scandal of this was that Jesus held this steward up as an example. That his shrewd nature in providing for himself a family was praised by Jesus, and that only if the steward was Jesus, could this be anymore scandalous.
Well it is scandalous, and I think you might have seen here I am going – this scenario could describe that which Jesus endured, that which he did.
He was the one in whom was invested the authority of God, and his actions were considered wasting away that which God have given him. The pharisees are the ones who “reported” him, as he ate with sinners, with tax collectors and harlots. Why would a man of God invest himself in their lives, when he could invest himself in theirs?
He was called to account, and he knew he would be. That judgment, that being “terminated” was obvious to Jesus, as he prophesied about it often.
In view of that “termination” Jesus did call in those who owed the rich man debts – and he did cancel our debts – not just 50 or 80 percent – but completely. And those who were forgiven received him gladly, even with great celebration! His forgiven our debt is the reason we gather and celebrate with Him here in our midst – as we feast! Even as we recognize that he was fully terminated!....
How can the Master praise his wisdom? Because in forgiving debt, the kingdom grew, That is one of the paradoxes that astounds people – God purifies His people – not by punishing them, nor by terminating them, but by terminating the one steward who was perfect, who was pure, who was unfairly accused of sin. He does this out of love, out of a desire to be received by us, as He pours His Spirit into us, and cleanses and purifies and set us apart for his work.
The master praises the steward, and at the end, every knee will bow, every tongue will praise Him as they confess that Jesus Christ is not just steward of all, but Lord of all!
And with our debts forgiven, we receive Him into our lives, into our homes, knowing His peace.... the incredible peace that is the riches of God's glory in Christ. AMEN?
