On Judgment and Mercy; Luke 16:1-8

Delivered during the Sunday Morning Worship Service, 7/7/2024. After telling three powerful parables of redemption, repentance and restoration, Jesus turns to His disciples with a parable that serves as a practical commentary on the wisdom of depending on God's mercy. Considered by many to be one of Jesus' most difficult parables to interpret, we will hopefully find the opposite to be true. It is a simple parable in which a dishonest and discharged steward of a large estate uses his shrewdness to secure his future. The key to understanding the parable is to recognize the steward's wisdom in realizing two things he can depend on in his situation-- the master's judgment and the master's mercy. Therefore to try and defend himself would be fruitless and probably lead to jail or worse. The simple principle of the parable is that even though God's just judgment condemns us, our Heavenly Father is infinitely merciful. And therefore, despite our obvious guilt, has arranged for our salvation through the Crosswork of His Son, Jesus Christ. The question that is raised is whether you will be wise enough (as was this dishonest steward) to realize the inevitability of God's just judgment of your sins, and to bank your eschatological future on His mercy; or whether you will foolishly risk your eternity on your own "goodness".