For God So Loved the World & The Unjust Steward

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).” This verse does not only declare God's love for the world, but it is also implies that God gave Jesus Christ to the nations as a gift which confirms his love for them. "For God so loved the world." How does a biblical account of Jesus Christ confirm God's love for the nations? The teachings of Jesus, as well as those of his followers, are especially meant to perfect the world's understanding of who God is (Ephesians 4:12). In essence, God loved the world so much that he gave them not only Jesus Christ, but also Jesus' followers; so that when the world witnesses their acts of kindness, and of impartiality, and compassion, and heard their words, the world would see and know, the love, and mercy, and the forgiveness that God has for them.

To identify an end time truth which was written in, John, chapter three, verse sixteen, the facts of this law were established when Jesus taught them again for a second time, saying: "Verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death to life (John 5:24)." The unpopular testimony of John, chapter five, verse twenty four, works together with, John, three, sixteen, and it verifies that if believer's hear Jesus' teachings, and if they already believed in God, then they are passed from death unto everlasting life, without condemnation. Jesus taught the truth concerning this law of pardon, twice, therefore it was established by God. Nevertheless, these two verses work together to produce evidence which insinuates, and testifies that the new covenant is to learn of Jesus. "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? ... He will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:18-19)." 

God sent the people the prophet Jesus Christ, for their sanctification. “Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Jesus (Matthew 11:6).” “By him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses (Acts 13:39).” As previously stated, God gave the world the teachings of Jesus to perfect their understanding of his love, however Jesus' death served yet another purpose for the nations. Jesus went to the cross and willingly gave his life as an offering: his death was God's offering which established all of God's covenant promises. "Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers (Romans 15:8)." "This man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12)."

How could, and did, the priests of Jesus' day make the unlawful mistake of condemning God's son, who was a prophet, and a righteous man, unto death? Answer: It was no mistake (Deuteronomy 33:9). The crucifixion was a necessary part of God's plan to fulfill scripture, even fulfilling some prophecies which Jesus Christ himself delivered (Isaiah chapter 53). "The Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again (Matthew 20:19)." Jesus' death was purposed for the gathering of God's people of every nation into one understanding, in the last days, and at the end of time. "The high priest prophesied that Jesus should die… and not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad (John 11:51-52).” Jesus gave his life so that during end times believers might see the truth, and turn from the mistakes of religion: for his death testifies that religion rehearses, and promotes mistaken beliefs. “He gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time (1Timothy 2:6).”

The priests of Jesus' day refused to consider that Jesus' new doctrine could be of God. They consented to his death because they were deceived by their own mistaken understandings of God's word, or in other words, by their religious iniquities. Likewise, today's priests are also being deceived by the mistaken beliefs of their forefathers, and by their own mistaken understandings of God's word. Jesus' crucifixion is evidence that religion and tradition are stumbling blocks for God's people (John 19:7). For God so loved the world that he gave them Jesus, and Jesus' death is evidence that seemingly good and godly religious doctrines, are in fact, riddled with errs. Jesus gave himself as an offering that he might reveal the sin of relying upon, and trusting in, our forefather's teachings, for trusting in religion is iniquity. “He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity (Titus 2:14). Religion's shortcomings are evidenced by the crucifixion, and teaching the congregation this true fact will put understanding into the hearts of God's people: “The bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world (John 6:51).” “Let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36).”

Through Jesus’ teachings the world, is, and has been, awarded an opportunity to get a glimpse at the Father’s love. Jesus commanded his followers to have love for one another, and those who have kept his commandments have a spirit of love that comes from the father. Therefore God's love is seen through the true followers of Jesus Christ. “I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you (Matthew 5:44).” “A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another (John 13:34).” “For love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God (1John 4:7).” “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another (John 13:35).”

Priests' often allow the pressures and demands of religion to dictate what is taught in their pulpit. This type of pressure is eluded to in a parable of the unjust steward. Think of the priest as being a steward of God's word. “It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful (1Corinthians 4:2).” Now think of the unjust steward as being a priest who has been withholding the newly revealed end time truths of scripture from God's people. The unjust steward is accused of wasting the goods of his lord. “How is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest no longer steward (Luke 16:2).” Jesus could be demanding these things of the steward, however these words actually represent certain accusations which are coming from the dictates of religion, against priests. Compare the accountability demanded in this parable, to that which is commanded in a parable about a certain nobleman: “It came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him… that he might know how much every man had gained (Luke 19:15).” When the truths of the covenant message are openly professed before the nations, the dictates and authorities of religion will demand those priests which were not sharing its truths before the congregation, to give an account. God gave the priesthood time to prepare everyone, so what about the priests who failed to heed the warnings of God's messengers? Is bowing down to the pressures of religion a good reason for not serving the Lord and following after his truths?

What will happen when priests are confronted by their authorities? The unjust steward resolved what he would do, and then he went to work. “He called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? (Luke 16:5).” The wisdom of the unjust steward was to respond by taking all of his understanding directly to the people, in a one on one basis. The steward exacted less from his lord's debtors then they owed, for he explained unto them that God exacts less from believers than our iniquities deserve. The unjust steward actions not only remind people to be gracious when instructing others, but they also remind believers that righteousness is not of the law, but it is by faith. The debts of his lord's debtors were not completely resolved by the steward, neither could they be, for everyone must personally perform a work for the Lord in order to inherit the blessings of the kingdom. The reason that God provided the parable of the unjust steward is to show priests that they should have charity towards the congregation, for it pleases the Lord: “The Lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely (Luke 16:8).”

At the conclusion of this parable are lessons which pertain to "unrighteous mammon." These parable words refer to our iniquities: God used them to represent the portions of our religious doctrines which are deceitful, and which misrepresent him before the people. “If ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches (Luke 16:11)?” In other words, if you were unfaithful at keeping and promoting the laws of your own religious beliefs, then who is going to help you understand the kingdom’s secrets?

“I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations (Luke 16:9).” The secret to discerning the truth of this verse, is to understand that the counsel of this verse is directly linked to the parable of the unjust steward. Consider that each and every religion has a certain amount of unrighteous mammon. So this verse is encouraging priests that hear the covenant message, to win allies unto themselves by directly sharing their understanding of it with some of the people within their own congregation, in a one on one basis. This way when the end does come, the people whom they informed will rise up, and they will help them by declaring the things which they heard, and which they now believe. “Who is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season (Luke 12:42)?”

“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 (Luke 16:13).” The truth is, believers now face an all important decision: who will they serve? Will it be God, or religion's long standing inaccuracies: no one can serve both. “He will thoroughly purge his floor (Luke 3:17).” Make no mistake about it, every err of our religious teachings will be destroyed. “That servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes (Luke 12:47).” “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18)."

The words "everlasting habitations" are written among the lessons of the unrighteous mammon.  "Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations (Luke 16:9)." What are these words referring to? Where is the place of everlasting habitations? The Greek word which was translated into the word “habitations,” was also translated into the word “tabernacle” and it was used in the verse: “David; who found favor before God, desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob (Acts 7:46).” In other words, is was David's desire to find God an everlasting habitation. David's desire is realized through yet another covenant promise of God: Jesus Christ is being made our high priest forever, by an oath (Hebrews 7:20). “The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec (Psalms 110:4; Hebrews 7:21).” Through our great high priest, Jesus Christ, God's people are being made one: this is the unity that God approves of, and it is his everlasting habitation, it is Zion, and it is the fulfillment of David's desire. “He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end (Luke 1:33).” Believe God, and believe on his Son. “So all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob (Psalms 14:7; Romans 11:26).”