The Parable of the Dishonest Steward
CHAPTER 65
AT THIS TIME Jesus gave to his disciples the parable of "The Dishonest Steward." A steward is a man who takes care of any business or lands or houses belonging to another man who employs him. Jesus said:
"There was a rich man who had a steward who took charge of all his business. Some one told the rich man that his steward was cheating him and making a wrong use of his money. So the master sent for the steward and said:
"'What is this that I hear about you? Hand in your accounts, for you shall not be my steward any longer.'
"The steward was at first greatly troubled at this; and he did not know how he could live if his office as steward was taken away.
"'What shall I do,' he said to himself, 'now that my master is taking away from me my place as steward? I am not strong enough to dig in the ground as a farmer, and I am ashamed to beg in the streets. Oh, I know what I can do, so that when my office as steward is taken away the people will invite me to their homes to live with them.'
"One by one the steward called to him the men that were owing his master.
"'How much do you owe my master?' he asked of the first.