And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
Discussion:
A debtor, as before, represents spiritual ideas that have been learned (“borrowed”) but not yet taken to heart. What this debtor borrowed is extraordinary: Swedenborg says “oil” represents the desire for good that comes from a love of the Lord; a “bath” (a unit of measurement translated in a variety of ways) represents true ideas that spring from a desire for good; and “100” represents a state of fullness or completeness.
So what happens when we apply the external religious ideas represented by the steward? The debtor enters a lower spiritual state (he “sits down”), one which is an intermediate step (“50”) to the 100 baths of oil. But rather than remaining a debtor, he “writes” it, meaning it is inscribed on his heart, and permanent.
This is a change we can imagine. We might have incredible ideals, thoughts of a life filled with love, caring and worship, but find ourselves unable to live up to them. In fact, they might seem so far beyond us that it does not seem worth making an effort. But if we can substitute some more attainable, more down-to earth goals, it might be much more realistic for us to commit to them and actually keep them.
This verse, like others here, is not addressed directly in Swedenborg, so this is an interpretation.
And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
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.
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.