Sep 13, 2022 3 min read Luke 16:1-13

Parable of the Dishonest Manager

What is happening in Luke 16:1-13? This parable has to be one of the most confusing and challenging of Jesus's sayings.

New Testament scholar, Greg Carey, notes:

C. H. Dodd observed that even Luke seems clueless as to what to do with the parable, providing at least three interpretations at the parable’s conclusion: (1) that the children of light should learn from the prudence of their corrupt neighbors; (2) to make friends by means of dishonest wealth; and (3) that if one wishes to be entrusted with true riches, one must demonstrate honesty with ordinary wealth. Dodd famously concludes: “We can almost see here notes for three separate sermons on the parable as text.” (Parables of the Kingdom (rev. ed.; London: Nisbet & Co., 1936), 29-30.)

Revised Common Lectionary During Advent

It is time for preachers to start reviewing those Scripture Lessons for the Advent season. In 2022 - Year A – the Old Testament readings designate an Isaiah passage for all four weeks of Advent. But before we talk about Isaiah, let's explore all the Scripture lessons.

When we explore the lectionary Scripture lessons for Advent, we find a method (and a history) to its madness, but it is not always clear when looking at a single year’s lessons. However, when we take a step back and look at the whole three-year cycle of readings for this season, a certain pattern emerges. We will explain the pattern and include Year A's readings below.

Every First Sunday of Advent (Years A, B, and C) includes an eschatological passage for the Gospel reading with complementary readings from the Old Testament and the Epistles. The gospel readings for each year refer to the Son of Man’s return. So be ready! We do not know the day or hour!
Year A Matthew 24:36–44 Isaiah 2:1–5 Romans 13:11–14

The Second and Third Sundays of Advent center on John the Baptist’s ministry in the Gospel readings; they ring with an apocalyptic tone (“Prepare the way!”) but also relate well to the coming of Jesus. On the Second Sunday, Jesus is spoken about indirectly as the one who is to come; he is not an actor in the story. On the Third Sunday, Matthew includes an exchange between John the Baptist and Jesus.
Year A Matthew 3:1–12 Isaiah 11:1–10 Romans 15:4–13
Year A Matthew 11:2–11 Isaiah 35:1–10 James 5:7–10

The Fourth (and final) Sunday of Advent sounds forth with anticipation for the arrival of the Christ child. Angels appear. Mary is with child. The birth is upon us. All the Gospel readings are taken from the first chapter of Matthew or Luke.
Year A Matthew 1:18–25 Isaiah 7:10–16 Romans 1:1–7

We might conclude from this quick tour of the Advent lectionary Scripture lessons that the two Advent themes discussed above are intertwined but that penitence arrives first and fades eventually, while joy at the newborn child arrives later in the season. We also see that John the Baptist is featured prominently during this season as a way to conjoin penitence and joy.

The above excerpt – with a few modifications – is from my book, Unto Us A Child is Born: Isaiah, Advent, and Our Jewish Neighbors published by Eerdmans in 2020.