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(2) The steward removes the interest charge from the debt, following Mosaic law (Ex 22:25 Lev 25:35-37 Deut 15:7-8 23:20-21). This act would undercut his boss by showing what a shark he is. What exactly does the steward do? Three options are often suggested: (1) The steward wields his authority as steward and simply lowers the price. The cultural background to the 50 percent reduction in the oil bill and the 20 percent reduction in the wheat bill has been much discussed. The steward introduces a high deflationary trend in his master's bills. He decides on a course of action that will bring him into his neighbors' good graces.

Facing unemployment and having no marketable skills beyond being a steward, he is in a dilemma, since he does not wish to beg or resort to demeaning physical labor. His accounting will be his last task for this master. For with the accounting comes the steward's pink slip—he is fired. The master calls for an accounting, but it is not to see if the charges are true. In any case, the steward's reputation leads to his dismissal. Though for reasons I make clear below I prefer the latter option—that the steward's dishonesty led to his dismissal—it must be acknowledged that either understanding may be right.

As Nolland (1993:797) suggests, "It is tempting to think of the steward as siphoning off funds for his own consumption from transactions made in the name of the master." The need to choose between these two options is what makes the parable so difficult, since either can be easily defended as fitting the story's framework. On the other hand, others argue that the "wasting" itself in verse 1 involved outright dishonesty. If such a distinction is made, then the steward's actions in verses 5-7 are seen as dishonest. The characterization of the steward's activity is crucial, because some distinguish between what is said here about the steward's ineptitude from what is said about his dishonesty in verse 8 (Stein 1992:412). He has been scattering (diaskorpizo) his master's resources. The description of the steward's activity is like that of the prodigal son in the previous parable (15:13). The parable centers on a steward who is accused of wasting the master's goods. Its point is clear enough—be generous and responsible with your resources—but how it makes the point is much discussed. This story is probably the most difficult parable in Luke.