Stewardship and the Kingdom of God: An Historical, Exegetical, and Contextual Study of the Parable of the Unjust Steward in Luke 16:1-13

The parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16:1-13 is a unity which teaches faithful stewardship of material possession against an eschatological backdrop. This interpretation is confirmed by examination of the pericope itself and progressively wider levels of context within Luke’s Gospel. This study is a summary of the literature on the parable, the central section and the themes of riches and poverty and eschatology in the Third Gospel. Chapter One provides a history of recent interpreations of the parable (19th and 20th centuries) as background for the ensuing study. Detailed exegesis of Luke 16:1-13 itself is found in Chapter Two. The investigation is broadened in Chapter Three to include the immediate and broader literary contexts (Luke 15-16 and 9:51-19:44, respectively). Chapter Four examines the theological context, in particular the themes of riches and poverty and the kingdom of God. Chapter Five summarizes the major conclusions of the book.