Luke 16:6

And hee said, An hundred measures of oyle. And hee saide vnto him, Take thy bill, and sit downe quickly, and write fiftie. Luke 16:6 (KJV)

This verse is part of the Parable of the Unjust Steward, also called the Parable of the Shrewd Manager, which begins in Luke 16:1 and continues through verse 13. In this parable Jesus tells a story to teach his disciples about the wise use of resources and money.

Context: Before this verse Jesus relates the story of a manager who was about to be fired for wasting his master’s possessions. Knowing that he would soon lose his job, the manager quickly devised a plan to secure his future. He called in each of his master’s debtors and reduced their debts, thereby gaining favour with them. When the master heard about this, he commended the unjust steward for his shrewdness (verse 8).

Meaning: In verse 6 the steward calls one of the debtors who owes a hundred measures of oil. He then says, “Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty,” (or in another rendering, “Put thy bill; and sit down quickly, and write fifty”). This instruction reduces the debt by half, indicating a significant reduction in the amount owed and a new bill reflecting half of the original debt.

Lesson: The parable is not an endorsement of the manager’s dishonesty but an emphasis on the importance of wise stewardship and foresight. The dishonest manager showed resourcefulness by securing future relationships that could benefit him. Jesus uses this example to highlight the need for believers to be wise and shrewd in handling their resources, especially in light of eternity.

Application: As believers we are called to be faithful stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us—our time, talents, and finances—and to use them in a manner that aligns with God’s purposes. Like the shrewd manager we should consider the future implications of our decisions, investing in eternal matters and building relationships that honour God. The parable also reminds us that faithfulness in handling worldly wealth correlates with faithfulness in spiritual matters, and that proven faithfulness may lead God to entrust us with greater responsibilities in His kingdom.

In conclusion, Luke 16:6‑7 teaches the importance of wise stewardship, foresight, and faithfulness in handling the resources God has given us. By being faithful with what we have, we can honour God and invest in eternal matters.