Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 16:8

8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are in their generation wiser then the children of light.

Hierom of old, thought this Parable was very obscure, and and Iulian and other Apostates, together with some of the Heathen Philosophers, took occasion from it to reproach the Doctrine of Christ, as teaching and commanding Acts of unrighteousness. But there will appear no such Difficulty in it, nor cause of Reproach to Christ, and his Doctrine from it, if we consider what I have before hinted: That it is no more necessary to a Parable, that all the Actions in it supposed be just and honest, than that all the parts of it be true in matter of Fact, whether past or possible to be, for a Parable is not designed to in[illegible: 1 letter]orm us in a matter of Fact, but to describe to us our Duty, under a Fictitious Representation: nor doth▪ every part of a Parable, point at some Correspondent duty to be done by us, but the main Scope for which it is brought, is principally to be attended by us, and other pieces of Duty which may be hinted in us, are to be judged of, and proved not from the Parable, but from other Texts of Holy Writ, where it is inculcated. The main things in which our Saviour seemeth desirous by this Parable to instruct us, are, 1. That we are but Stewards of the good things God lends us. and must give an account to our Master of them. 2. That being no more then Stewards intrusted with some of our Masters Goods for a time, it is our highest Prudence, while we have them in our Trust, to make such an use of them, as may be for our advantage, when we give up our Account. Thus we shall hear our Lord in the following Verses Expounding his own meaning. To this purpose he supposed a Rich Man to have a Steward, and to have received some Accusation against him, as if he imbezelled his Masters Goods Committed to his trust. Upon which he calleth him to account, and tells him that he should be his Steward no longer. He supposeth this Steward be one who had no other means of Lively-hood, and subsistence, than what his Place afforded him, a Man not used to Labour, and too proud to Beg. At length he fixed his Resolution, to send for his Masters Debters, and to abate their Obligations, making them Debters to his Master for much less than indeed they were; by this means he probably Hoped, that when he was turned off from his Master, he should be received by them. He supposeth his Master to have heard of it, and to have commended him not for his Honesty, but for his Wit in providing for the time to come. What was Knavery in this Steward, is honest enough in those who are the Stewards of our Heavenly Lord's Goods; suppose Riches, Honours, Parts, Health, Life, or any outward Accommodation, viz. to use our Lord's Goods for the best profit, and advantage to our selves, during such time as we are instrusted with them. For tho an Earthly Lord, and his Steward, have particular divided Interests, and he that maketh use of his Lords Goods for his own best advantage, cannot at the same time make use of them for the best advantage of his Master, yet the Case is different betwixt our Heavenly Lord and us. It hath pleased God so to twist the Interest of his Glory with our highest good, that no Man can better use his Master's Goods for the advantage of his Glory, than he who best useth them for the highest good profit, and advantage to himself: Nor doth any Man better use them for his own Interest, than he who best useth them for Gods Glory. So as here the Parable halteth, by reason of the disparity betwixt the things that are compared. And tho the unjust Steward could not be commended for the honesty, but only for the Policy of his Action, yet we who are Stewards of the Gifts of God in doing the like, that is, making use of our Master's Goods for our own best profit, and advantage, may Act not only wisely, but also honestly; and indeed Christ in this Parable blameth Men for not doing so. The Children of this World (saith he) are wiser in their Generation, than the Children of Light. By the Children of the World, he meaneth such as this Steward was, Men who regard not Eternity or the concerns of their immortal Souls, but only regard the things of this Life, what they shall Eat, or Drink, or put on. By the Children of the Light, he meaneth such a[illegible: 1 letter] live under the Light of the Gospel, and receive the common Illumination of the Gospel; tho if we yet understand it more strictly, of those who are Translated out of Darkness into marvellous Light, it is too true, they are not so Wise, and Politick, and Industrious for Heaven, as Worldly Men are to obtain their ends in getting the World. He saith, The Men of the World are wiser in their Generation, that i[illegible: 1 letter], in their kind, as to those things, about which they Exercise their Wit, and Policy, than the Children of God.

Marginal references: Eph. 5.8. 1 Thess. 5.5.