The Mystery of the Cunning and Shrewd Administrator

Undoubtedly, the parable of the cunning and shrewd administrator is the most difficult of all, and even its first impressions are contrary to Christian ethics. Obviously, it is truly inconceivable that the unethical actions of a fired employee are praised. Although sensationally in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus demonstrated how is the Lord's love, goodness and perfection and gave relevant guidelines of Christian ethics, He told a short but complex story, very different from the others parables, which leads to asking this question: Why does Jesus, the exponent of the goodness, love and perfection of God, presents in a parable the example of dishonesty, negligence and abuse of the cunning and shrewd administrator (who is responsible of a conflict of interests)? Certainly, there are no definitive answers. Nonetheless, in this literary work several approaches are presented in order to glimpse the mystery and almost unexplainable issue of the parable of the cunning and shrewd administrator, taking into account that certain details, various points of view and the Master's final reflections must be carefully reviewed and analyzed.