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THE PARABLES OF JESUS

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Nov 4, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 42.

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THE PARABLES OF JESUS.

Lesson VIII.—The Unjust Steward.

(Sabbath, November 20.)
1. WHAT accusation was brought against the steward of a certain rich man?
"And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods." Luke 16 : 1.
2. After calling the steward to him, what question did the master ask him?
"And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward." Verse 2.
3. What did he ask him to do? Same verse.
4. What decision did the master make?
5. What inquiry did the steward then put to himself?
"Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship; I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed." Verse 3.
6. By what difficulties was he beset? Same verse.
7. What good did he hope to secure by the course he resolved to pursue?
"I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses." Verse 4.
8. What question did he ask each of his lord's debtors, as he called them to him one by one?
"So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?" "Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, A hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write four-score." Verses 5, 7.
9. What answer did the first one make?
"And he said, A hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty." Verse 6.
10. What did the unjust steward tell him to do?
11. What did the second one say? Verse 7.
12. What was he told to do? Same verse.
13. How was the steward's artifice regarded by his master?
"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." Verse 8.
14. What remark is made concerning the worldly wisdom often manifested by ungodly men? Same verse.
15. What counsel is then given?
"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." Verse 9.
16. What is said about faithfulness?
"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." Verse 10.
17. What about those who are unjust in small matters? Same verse.
18. What important question is then asked?
"If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?" Verse 11.
19. What is here meant by "the true riches"?
—Probably the riches of grace, and the enjoyments of the world to come.
20. What is meant by "the unrighteous mammon"?—The wealth of this world.
21. How can Christians be faithful with this kind of wealth?—By using it as God has commanded.
22. What has he said with reference to it?
"Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase." Prov. 3:9. "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." "Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the Heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth." Luke 6:38; 12:33.
23. What encouragement is given to those who make such a good use of worldly means?
"The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again." "He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse." Prov. 11:25; 19:17; 28:27.
24. How is true generosity illustrated?
"For I was a hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee a hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matt. 25:35-40.
25. How does our Lord show the folly of having the heart set upon worldly riches, and trying to serve God at the same time?
"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." Luke 16:13.
26. How is it that the "children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light"?—Those who seek worldly wealth and honor devote all their energies and the best of their ability to the end they have in view; while those who seek heavenly riches often put forth weak or divided efforts.
27. How did the Pharisees treat the doctrine of liberality which Jesus was trying to impress?
"And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things; and they derided him." Verse 14.
28. Why did they deride him? Same verse.
29. How did Jesus reprove them?
"And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts." First part of verse 15.
30. How does God's estimation of things often differ from the judgment of men?
"For that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." Last part of verse 15.
31. How were men showing their appreciation of the new light which was given them by the preaching of John the Baptist and our Lord?
"The law and the prophets were until John; since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." Verse 16.
32. How did Jesus set forth the importance and steadfastness of God's law?
"And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail." Verse 17.
33. How did he intimate that the Jews had been careless in the observance of that law, even while claiming to guard it so jealously?
"Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery; and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery." Verse 18.