Prepare a full account of your stewardship

The parable of the Dishonest Steward is problematic on two counts: one, the title itself is misleading; the other, in the last verse in which the master commends the dishonest steward (v 8).

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The steward squanders his master’s property. This is a grave offense against his master. And the steward knows the consequences. He will be laid off. So, he devises a contingency plan for his survival. He endears himself to the debtors of his master by writing off his “commission.” Thus, he builds up a fountain of good will. He is commended by his master for acting prudently (or cleverly or shrewdly). The title should be “The parable of the Dishonest Steward Who Turned Honest.”