The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

A wealthy man's manager is accused of mismanagement. He cleverly secures the future of his debtors, showing foresight and cunning.

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

Luke 16:1-13/ KJV

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
5. So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
6. And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
7. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12. And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
13. 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.

General themes for this chapter of the Bible: The Parable of the Unjust Steward; The Rich Man and Lazarus

Back to Index

A bustling marketplace in the early morning, where merchants are setting up their stalls and people go about their daily lives. Amidst the chaos, a lone figure, in humble clothing, quietly observes the scene, possibly representing the manager himself. This scene captures the daily life unaffected by the manager's scheme, highlighting his actions in the larger context.

A detailed depiction of a sealed clay tablet, partially broken, revealing fragments of an ancient accounting ledger. Numbers and symbols are barely visible, representing the secrecy and potentially fraudulent records of the manager’s dealings. The broken tablet symbolizes the manager's attempt to conceal his dishonesty.

A close-up of a worn leather pouch, partially open, revealing a few precious coins and a small, crumpled piece of parchment. The details suggest hidden wealth and secret negotiations that were part of the manager's strategy. The pouch with coins and parchment depicts the hidden wealth and secret negotiations that underpin the manager's plan.

Macro closeup of a worn ledger, ink smudged and hastily written numbers. A single gold coin rests on the page, symbolizing the manager's wealth and questionable accounting. Dust motes dance in a shaft of light from a high window, emphasizing the passage of time. This macro closeup focuses on the physical evidence of the manager's deceitful actions, reflecting his manipulation of financial records.

Macro closeup of a worried man's hands, clutching a handful of coins. His calloused fingers reflect a life of hard labor, contrasting with the fine fabric of his robe, hinting at his recent financial vulnerability. A single tear streaks his cheek. This close-up emphasizes the human cost of the manager's actions, highlighting the vulnerability of those dependent on his decisions.

Bright morning sunlight bathes a field of ripe wheat, ready for harvest. A distant figure, small and indistinct, works in the field, representing the manager's debtors and the abundance at stake. The sky is a vibrant orange and yellow. The abundance of the harvest symbolizes the resources the manager controls and the potential consequences of his choices.

A sun-drenched olive grove at dawn. Golden light illuminates the fruit-laden branches, reflecting the rewards of shrewd planning and the bounty available to those who prepare. Shadows lengthen across the path, symbolizing the passage of time and the urgency of the manager's actions. The olive grove, a symbol of prosperity, contrasts with the manager’s hidden actions, highlighting the irony of his situation.

Evening light casts long shadows across a dusty road. A lone figure, silhouetted against the setting sun, walks towards a distant village, representing the manager's uncertain future. The sky is a blend of deep oranges and purples. The setting sun represents the manager's dwindling power and the uncertainty of his future.

An olive press at sunset, the air thick with the scent of crushed olives. The darkening sky mirrors the manager’s diminishing power, while the piles of olives suggest the abundance he once controlled. Workers finish their day's labor in the fading light. The olive press at sunset highlights the end of an era and the manager’s loss of control.

A group of people, dressed in simple robes, gather around a well at sunrise. They eagerly await their day's work, oblivious to the manager's scheme, symbolizing their dependence on his decisions. The morning light reveals their hope and vulnerability. This morning scene depicts the manager's debtors, unaware of his scheme, showing their reliance on his actions.

Several figures, their faces etched with worry, huddle together in the shadows of a marketplace at night, whispering amongst themselves. The scene depicts the anxieties of those affected by the manager's actions and the secrecy surrounding his plans. This night scene portrays the anxiety and fear among those affected by the manager's deceitful actions.

A richly decorated merchant's house at night, lamps casting long shadows, and the faint sounds of hushed conversations coming from within. The scene symbolizes the opulence the manager is surrounded by and the hidden actions that he takes. This nighttime scene focuses on the opulence the manager enjoys, contrasting with his secret and questionable dealings.

overlayed with the bible verse 1. 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.

NOTE: The images reflect the following descriptions related to the theme : The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

Macro closeup of a worn ledger, ink smudged and hastily written numbers. A single gold coin rests on the page, symbolizing the manager's wealth and questionable accounting. Dust motes dance in a shaft of light from a high window, emphasizing the passage of time.
Macro closeup of a worried man's hands, clutching a handful of coins. His calloused fingers reflect a life of hard labor, contrasting with the fine fabric of his robe, hinting at his recent financial vulnerability. A single tear streaks his cheek.
Bright morning sunlight bathes a field of ripe wheat, ready for harvest. A distant figure, small and indistinct, works in the field, representing the manager's debtors and the abundance at stake. The sky is a vibrant orange and yellow.
A sun-drenched olive grove at dawn. Golden light illuminates the fruit-laden branches, reflecting the rewards of shrewd planning and the bounty available to those who prepare. Shadows lengthen across the path, symbolizing the passage of time and the urgency of the manager's actions.
Evening light casts long shadows across a dusty road. A lone figure, silhouetted against the setting sun, walks towards a distant village, representing the manager's uncertain future. The sky is a blend of deep oranges and purples.
An olive press at sunset, the air thick with the scent of crushed olives. The darkening sky mirrors the manager’s diminishing power, while the piles of olives suggest the abundance he once controlled. Workers finish their day's labor in the fading light.
A group of people, dressed in simple robes, gather around a well at sunrise. They eagerly await their day's work, oblivious to the manager's scheme, symbolizing their dependence on his decisions. The morning light reveals their hope and vulnerability.
Several figures, their faces etched with worry, huddle together in the shadows of a marketplace at night, whispering amongst themselves. The scene depicts the anxieties of those affected by the manager's actions and the secrecy surrounding his plans.
A richly decorated merchant's house at night, lamps casting long shadows, and the faint sounds of hushed conversations coming from within. The scene symbolizes the opulence the manager is surrounded by and the hidden actions that he takes.
A bustling marketplace in the early morning, where merchants are setting up their stalls and people go about their daily lives. Amidst the chaos, a lone figure, in humble clothing, quietly observes the scene, possibly representing the manager himself.
A detailed depiction of a sealed clay tablet, partially broken, revealing fragments of an ancient accounting ledger. Numbers and symbols are barely visible, representing the secrecy and potentially fraudulent records of the manager’s dealings.
A close-up of a worn leather pouch, partially open, revealing a few precious coins and a small, crumpled piece of parchment. The details suggest hidden wealth and secret negotiations that were part of the manager's strategy.

A link to this resource is much appreciated to let others know about this free christian resource. The AB Church in LAusanne-Renens is happy to make the image collection available for free.