publicans ought to do, — ^to be faithful in money matters, and to make themselves Mends by a right use of their wealth.
These, or some of them, appear to me the connecting links between the parable before us, and the preceding chapter. It looks to me like a caution to our Lord's " disciples." They were not to suppose that all Publicans were right in the Lord's eyes, or that the sins of Publicans were not noticed by Him as well as the sins of Pharisees.
(C.) The rich man and the steward and the debtors do not appear to me to be allegorical persons. I regard them as actors in the story, which our Lord is telling ; but 1 cannot think that they were intended to represent any particular persons.
(D.) The great lessons which the parable is intended to convey, appear to me to be three. — The first is the wisdom of providing against the future. This is taught by the story of a rich man's steward, who by a wicked contrivance secured him- self a home when he lost bis office. If a wicked man can do this for an earthly home, and in a wicked way, how much more ought a righteous man to provide for himself a heavenly home, in a lawful way? — The second lesson is the importance of using money rightly. By prudent management of money, however dishonest, the unjust steward made himself friends. Let the disciples follow his example, but in an honest and righteous manner. — The third lesson is the importance of faithfulness in the least affairs of business, as a test of character. The dis' honesty of the steward showed plainly the state of his heart. Let the disciples remember that unfaithfulness in money trans- actions, is a siu*e evidence of a rotten state of soul. The cheating Publican who persevered in dishonesty, and the self- righteous Pharisee who trusted in his own goodness, were both aMke in one respect. They were both unfit for the kingdom of God.
[il steward.^ The steward in this parable seems to have been an agent, who received his master's rents, which were paid in kind and not in money, and through whose hands all his maste/s receipts passed.
[Was cuicused.'] The word so translated is only found in this place in the New Testament. It is the root of the word *' devil." The word devil means " accuser." It does not however mean in this place that the steward was falsely accused. On the contrary, his own language seems clearly to show that he felt the accu- sation to be just, and incapable of refutation.
2. — {J^v mayest he.'] The expression so rendered means literally, "'Thou wilt not be able to be steward any longer." — It is im- possible that thou canst be. I cannot allow thee.
4. — {I am resolved!] The Greek word so translated means literally, **I faare known. — ^I know what I will do.