# Bible question (NT): Why did Jesus make one of his protagonists a thief? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 8, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-question-nt-why-did-jesus-make-one-of-his-protagonists-a-thief/492332 "2009-04-08T00:09:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-question-nt-why-did-jesus-make-one-of-his-protagonists-a-thief/492332/1 "2009-04-08T00:09:42Z")
It’s a bible question, so GD is where it should go, I guess. So, Jesus is telling this parable about how ya needs ta ensure your place in Heaven. In the story, the rich man has been conducting an audit, and it looks like he’s about to fire his chief steward for cause (the cause, apparently, being embezzlement). The steward gets wind of this development, and sensing that he will soon be on the streets without a _sou_ to his name, goes over the books again. He calls in some of his master’s debtors, and tells them that he’s going to cook the books in their favor, saving them substantial amounts of wealth. The idea, seems to be that in a one-hand-washes-the-other type deal, once Stewie is thrown out of the household, the guys he gave the store away to will remember who their buddy was, and make sure he’s taken care of. What’s the dealio with [Luke 16:1-15?](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2016%20;&version=9;) Anybody else feel that Jesus sort of undermines the whole idea about how we think He wants us to conduct ourselves in our daily lives with this? ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-question-nt-why-did-jesus-make-one-of-his-protagonists-a-thief/492332/2 "2009-04-08T00:57:04Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > It’s a bible question, so GD is where it should go, I guess. > > So, Jesus is telling this parable about how ya needs ta ensure your place in Heaven. In the story, the rich man has been conducting an audit, and it looks like he’s about to fire his chief steward for cause (the cause, apparently, being embezzlement). The steward gets wind of this development, and sensing that he will soon be on the streets without a _sou_ to his name, goes over the books again. > > He calls in some of his master’s debtors, and tells them that he’s going to cook the books in their favor, saving them substantial amounts of wealth. The idea, seems to be that in a one-hand-washes-the-other type deal, once Stewie is thrown out of the household, the guys he gave the store away to will remember who their buddy was, and make sure he’s taken care of. > > What’s the dealio with [Luke 16:1-15?](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2016%20;&version=9;) Anybody else feel that Jesus sort of undermines the whole idea about how we think He wants us to conduct ourselves in our daily lives with this? Try reading it in another version such as NIV and I think it makes more sense. I think this passage > [@](#): > > 10He 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. is key. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-question-nt-why-did-jesus-make-one-of-his-protagonists-a-thief/492332/3 "2009-04-08T01:18:32Z")
The Steward is actually writing off his own cut, trying to get good PR when he gets looking for a job. He’s not giving away anybody’s money but his own. That’s why the master commends him and not sends him to prison. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-question-nt-why-did-jesus-make-one-of-his-protagonists-a-thief/492332/4 "2009-04-08T01:23:36Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > The Steward is actually writing off his own cut, trying to get good PR when he gets looking for a job. He’s not giving away anybody’s money but his own. That’s why the master commends him and not sends him to prison. and you know this how? ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-question-nt-why-did-jesus-make-one-of-his-protagonists-a-thief/492332/5 "2009-04-08T01:32:42Z")
Jesus told me… It’s been the common explanation in my parish, but it’s also the explanation on the footnote of my “Biblia de Jerusalén”, a very good version. A can scan it if you don’t believe me that the footnote is there. I’ll try to find a web-based cite, though (I have one in Sapnish already, I’ll try English). ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-question-nt-why-did-jesus-make-one-of-his-protagonists-a-thief/492332/6 "2009-04-08T01:57:28Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > It’s a bible question, so GD is where it should go, I guess. > > So, Jesus is telling this parable about how ya needs ta ensure your place in Heaven. In the story, the rich man has been conducting an audit, and it looks like he’s about to fire his chief steward for cause (the cause, apparently, being embezzlement). The steward gets wind of this development, and sensing that he will soon be on the streets without a _sou_ to his name, goes over the books again. > > He calls in some of his master’s debtors, and tells them that he’s going to cook the books in their favor, saving them substantial amounts of wealth. The idea, seems to be that in a one-hand-washes-the-other type deal, once Stewie is thrown out of the household, the guys he gave the store away to will remember who their buddy was, and make sure he’s taken care of. > > What’s the dealio with [Luke 16:1-15?](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2016%20;&version=9;) Anybody else feel that Jesus sort of undermines the whole idea about how we think He wants us to conduct ourselves in our daily lives with this? The “lesson” is a cynical one, to be sure, but it’s not an endorsement of dishonesty. It’s setting up an analogy. If you knew that you’d lose your job in the near future, well, wouldn’t start taking action NOW to make sure you had somewhere else to go once the axe fell? Wouldn’t you do a few favors for people who could help you out then? Well, think of your life on Earth as a job. You know that one day, in the not so distant future, you’ll lose that job (i.e. kick the bucket). So, shouldn’t you act NOW to make sure you have someplace pleasant (Heaven) to go to when that happens? ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-question-nt-why-did-jesus-make-one-of-his-protagonists-a-thief/492332/7 "2009-04-08T02:21:05Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > Jesus told me… > > It’s been the common explanation in my parish, but it’s also the explanation on the footnote of my “Biblia de Jerusalén”, a very good version. A can scan it if you don’t believe me that the footnote is there. > > I’ll try to find a web-based cite, though (I have one in Sapnish already, I’ll try English). No I believe that’s where you got it. It’s one possible interpretation but I don’t see any clear reason to assume it’s the only one or even the best one. Looking at “The Message” from the OPs link their slant is > [@](#): > > 8-9"Now here’s a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior." The Message is not a great translation of the original text but interesting in concept. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-question-nt-why-did-jesus-make-one-of-his-protagonists-a-thief/492332/8 "2009-04-08T02:30:08Z")
[Wiki mention the cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Unjust_Steward) [Catholic site](http://www.rc.net/wcc/parabl17.htm) [Wesley U. mentions it as one option](http://wesley.nnu.edu/biblical_studies/parables/Stu_Not%5CWa-Lk16_1-8.htm) [Seventh-day Adventist site](http://www.mv-sda.net/SERMONS/SHREWD.TXT) So, I’m not saying the interpretaion I gave was THE ONE AND ONLY (sorry if it sounded like that), but one that historical enough and solves most of the “problems”. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-question-nt-why-did-jesus-make-one-of-his-protagonists-a-thief/492332/9 "2009-04-09T01:50:10Z")
There are a few meanings in the passage and some are worldly and some are spiritual. 1. Friends are better than money. The manager may have been dishonest, but he recognized that money is best used to help other people rather than hoarding it up. This, I think, is why the master praises the manager - not that he was necessarily happy with what happened, but he recognized it as an intelligent move. Spiritual Extension: God will be happier with you if you use your wealth to make people happy rather than using it to make more wealth. 1. Money can be a master in and of itself. The manager’s love of money lead him to fail in his duties to the master. Spiritual Extension: If your life is all about getting money, you aren’t obeying God and you aren’t properly managing what God gave you. 1. Dishonest people can’t be trusted with anything. The manager responds to being caught in his first act of dishonesty by moving on to an even bigger act of dishonesty, rather than asking for forgiveness and fixing his ways. Thus, you should be careful about trusting people who have proven themselves dishonest, even in small ways. (Note, I don’t think it’s saying that we shouldn’t forgive. It’s just saying - to paraphrase a pastor - you don’t let you daughter date rapists.) Spiritual Extension: If God can’t trust you to manage your material wealth, how can He trust you to manage His children and/or Kingdom? 1. I don’t know enough about the Pharisees in this case, but almost any parable given to a crowd that included Pharisees was an attack on their practices. It mentions that they hated the message because they love money, but I suspect there’s a good parallel between the parable and current events of the time. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-question-nt-why-did-jesus-make-one-of-his-protagonists-a-thief/492332/10 "2009-04-09T14:49:23Z")
The master’s money was not the servants but he spent it to ensure his own future. Likewise, our own money, talents, and time are not our own. Only our souls are our own. Like the dishonest servant, we should use what is not ours to gain a future reward. Because earthly concepts do not perfectly reflect heavenly realities, the analogy is flawed in that in order to get the reward you have to do the right thing, not the wrong thing. The point is that it is in your self interest to do be unselfish and if people do wrong things in their self interest, it should be easier to do the right thing in your self interest.