Answer: Luke 16: 9: “And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.”

The Jewish people in Old Testament times were God’s chosen people. Under the Mosaic Covenant certain members of that nation, the scribes and Pharisees, were representatives of God and the people. Therefore, Jesus could say to His disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not” (Matthew 23: 2, 3). God had committed to them special responsibilities, blessings, privileges, and knowledge, and the people were somewhat dependent upon them, but they were unjust in their dealings with the people.

The Lord, through His Son, sent word to these scribes and Pharisees that their stewardship was about to end. They sensed in a general way that a new dispensation, the Gospel Age, was coming in. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, had also proclaimed that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. In verses 1-8 of this chapter Jesus gave a parable explaining the course which these classes should take. He used the example of an unjust steward who was called upon by his lord to render up his accounts, because his stewardship was about to end.

When notified that his dismissal was at hand, this steward tried to make friends of all who were debtors to his master. Even though he had been unjust with these debtors before, he now reduced their accounts, because in olden times a steward had the right to make contracts for his master. By cutting their accounts he made friends of the people. Our Lord said that this was a very wise procedure on the part of the steward because he would gain the favor of those who could help him. Even though our Lord commended this course as good worldly wisdom, He did not commend the steward’s injustice.

Applied to His time, our Lord taught that the scribes and Pharisees should have sought to win the love and gratitude of their Jewish brethren. Had they tried to make the people happy and contented, it might have gone better for them afterward. But they did not do this, and when the great time of trouble came upon the nation in 69 A.D., these religious rulers were among those who suffered the most. They had not been as wise as the unjust steward.

Valuable Lesson for the Lord’s People

Our Lord then applied the parable to His disciples and gave them a valuable lesson. The application of the parable to His followers is somewhat different from its application to the scribes and Pharisees. When He said, “Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness,” He advised them to use whatever means, opportunity, influence, etc. that they possessed in blessing and assisting others, and thus they will make grateful, appreciative friends.

This does not mean that our good deeds and our use of whatever means the Lord has given us should be with a view to bringing esteem and material advantage to ourselves, but with a view of being of real service in blessing others along Scriptural lines. We should be liberal rather than miserly, according to the measure of our ability, and use the talents the Lord has given us to advance His cause. This will make us pleasing to the Lord.

Our Lord adds, “that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.” The failing refers to reaching the end of one’s course in this life. The faithful will thus be received into everlasting habitations – the place prepared for the faithful classes. For the Little Flock that meant glory, honor, and immortality – the Divine nature. For us it means a place in the earthly phase of God’s Kingdom. The “they” in this verse does not necessarily apply to those of whom one made friends. For the Little Flock it applies especially to the Father, the Lord Jesus, the glorified saints, the Great Company, and the angels.

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