April 12, 2026
This week we are looking at the parable of the savvy steward in Luke 16 v1-13. This is someone who has not always acted with integrity in his work, but has the foresight to plan ahead when he thinks the game is up and the boss is about to catch him. Jesus doesn’t commend his morality and ethics. But he uses the story to illustrate the urgent need to respond to the imminent presence of God. In so doing, he uses the term phrónimos to describe the steward. The word appears 14 times in the New Testament. For example the wise one who built his house on the rock in Matt 7v24 or the call for disciples to be as shrewd as serpents in Matt 10v16.
A good translation is something like, wisdom that is shrewd. This is a character trait Jesus lifts up repeatedly, encouraging his followers to make it part of their lives. Why? Because God is present now, calling us to reflect on how we live with an awareness that he is near and our lives are on loan.
There is an urgency going on in Jesus teaching. He is saying, ‘Wake up and realise the moment is now. All that you have is a stewardship from God. Respond. Become a disciple’. Maybe we could even use the phrase, ‘Get with the program!’
This call is not dependent on having a great education or being super intelligent, it is wisdom and street smarts and foresight to recognise that Jesus alone is the answer and to respond to that here and now.
May God grant us the urgent sense of what it means to live as faithful stewards of the coming King.
COMPARISON OF WISDOM TERMS IN GREEK
| Term | Form | Primary Focus | Best Translation |
| Sophia | Noun | Universal, divine, or theoretical truth | Wisdom (Theoretical) |
| Phronesis | Noun | Practical application and moral action | Prudence / Practical Wisdom |
| Phrónimos | Adjective | A person who possesses practical wisdom | Savvy / Worldly Wise / Shrewd |
| Sunesis | Noun | Critical analysis and conceptualizing | Understanding / Insight |
| Techne | Noun | Crafts, arts, and technical “know-how” | Craftsmanship / Art |
Julian Holdsworth
BSBC Pastor
