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Greetings John, and thanks for listening to the lesson. You question is a challenge and one for which, from a rational standpoint, I do not have a good answer. But first, remember that parables often contain exaggeration to make the main point (e.g. 10,000 talents debt is an amount so high it would be impossible for a servant to ever pay back), and with parables, be careful before trying to read too much into the details that detract from the main point (e.g. In our current parable, God is NOT going to just commend someone's dishonest behavior and reward it). The steward's reputation and conduct would make him untrustworthy to employ if someone were concerned about that - and we should be concerned about such things. But not everyone is concerned about such things (I think of the expression - honor among thieves). It could be his unscrupulous deals gained him such favor so that those he helped would be willing to take him in until he could find something else. I read sources about this parable that noted everyone had faults - for example, did the debtors know they were defrauding the lender and thus were complicit in the scheme? And if so, they were willing to help their "friend" who was in trouble. And some even see the master as unscrupulous for commending bad behavior, but I deal with that in the lesson - you can recognize a good quality even in the worst of people. That is why I lean toward the conclusion that Jesus in making the statement, "Make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home." (vs. 9) was speaking of the judgment the corrupt rulers we destined to face unless they repented. BUT, I realize that this view too has problems. Anyways, hope this helps you as you work through the quandary this parable brings up. Take care and keep listening.

Thomas, thanks for kindly replying. Are you open to a rather unorthodox idea? That the steward, who was accused (but not convicted) of wasting his master’s goods and later commended by his master, reminds us of Jesus, who was accused by the Pharisees of wasting time with sinners, but later commended by God. Jesus, who knows our sins, asks us to honestly report (confess) them to him. Jesus knows we can't pay God back for all of our sins. The steward, who knew the debts of the debtors (because he had contracts with him) asked the debtors to honestly report the amount of their debts. Could this steward have known that for some reason, such as bad crops due to bad weather, that the debtors couldn’t pay their debts in full? In that case, was getting partial payment from the honest debtors, and maintaining good relationships among all involved, the best possible resolution? In verse 8, could the master commending the steward indicate the God was pleased with the way Jesus carried out his ministry of reconciling sincere sinners? How does that sound?

@@johnbuchan3678 That is an interesting observation. I am not sure I agree with it here, though many of the premises you state are certainly true. I see that interpretation as requiring too much speculation to make it fit the parable. Furthermore, vs. 3 indicates the condition of the steward as being less than honorable - too prideful to beg or lazy to really work - that cannot be applied to Jesus in any way to my knowledge. I see in this parable Jesus calling into accounting the corrupt "stewards" of God's word who should have handled it rightly, but failed - that would be the religious leaders. Anyways, that is some of my thoughts here. Thanks for your comments

Greetings. Currently, we are blessed with the ability to support a few preachers, including some in other countries. Thank you for your inquiry.

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Greetings and thank you for contacting me. I am aware of this bad recording. The original was corrupter, however if you are interested, there is an audio of this lesson - 2 of them - one when the video was created, and the other when the lesson was presented live. The PowerPoint and PDF outline are also available. Here is the link to the lesson: roseavenue.org/Study-Materials/Sermon-Outlines/TeachingOfJESUS2020/JesusTeaching-27-GoldenRule.html God bless you and have a good day.

@@roseavenuechurchofchrist8593 no problem at all and thank you so much.