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The Parable of the Tares
Artist: John Everett Millais
 1865    Painting

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This oil on canvas measures 111.8 cm x 86 cm.  The painting is based on a design drawn by Millais for engraving by the Dalziel Brothers to illustrate The Parables of Our Lord, published in 1863. The book featured twenty woodcuts from designs by Millais.

In the scene depicted, a field has been planted with good seed but an enemy comes at night to sow tares, or evil seeds, among the wheat. Millais' composition and light effects convey the terror of this story. The enemy is a figure of horrifying ugliness, stooping to his evil work and surrounded by darkness. Streaks of light break the gloom of the sky and cast sinister gleams on the figure from behind, illuminating his bare feet and the arm that is sowing the tares.

The single-figure composition is unconventional for Biblical history painting. The painting was offered to the Royal Academy by Millais as his Diploma work, but was rejected. There is a smaller oil version at Buscot Park and a watercolor in the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester.

 

The Parable of the Unjust Steward
Artist: Marinus van Reymerswaele
 c. 1530    Painting

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The scripture referenced is (Luke 16:1-13) In this parable the characters are all wicked—the steward and the man whose possessions he manages are both unsavory characters. The parable begins with a rich man calling his steward before him to inform him that he will be relieving him of his duties for mismanaging his master’s resources.

This painting is housed in the National Museum in Warsaw

The steward is being released for apparent mismanagement, not fraud. This explains why he is able to conduct a few more transactions before he is released and why he is not immediately tossed out on the street or executed.

The steward, realizing that he will soon be without a job, makes some shrewd deals behind his master’s back by reducing the debt owed by several of the master’s debtors in exchange for shelter when he is eventually put out. When the master becomes aware of what the wicked servant had done, he commends him for his shrewdness.The unjust steward, once he knew he was about to be put out, maneuvered to collect some quick cash, cheat his master (who more than likely was cheating his customers), and make friends of his master’s debtors—who would then be obligated to care for him once he lost his job.

Luke 16:9: “And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings” (ESV). Jesus is encouraging His followers to be generous with their wealth in this life so that in the life to come their new friends will receive them into “eternal dwellings.” This is similar to Jesus’ teaching on wealth in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus exhorts His followers to lay up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19–21). the principle that Jesus is trying to convey is one of a just steward rather than an unjust one. The unjust steward saw his master’s resources as a means for his own personal enjoyment and advancement. Conversely, Jesus wants His followers to be just, righteous stewards. If we understand the principle that everything we own is a gift from God, then we realize that God is the owner of everything and that we are His stewards. As such, we are to use the Master’s resources to further the Master’s goals. In this specific case, we are to be generous with our wealth and use it for the benefit of others.

Jesus then goes on to expand in Luke 16:10–13 the principle given in verse 9. If one is faithful in “little” (i.e., “unrighteous” wealth), then one will be faithful in much. Similarly, if one is dishonest in little, he will also be dishonest in much. If we can’t be faithful with earthly wealth, which isn’t even ours to begin with, then how can we be entrusted with “true riches”? The “true riches” here is referring to stewardship and responsibility in God’s kingdom along with all the accompanying heavenly rewards.

The climax of Jesus’ application is verse Luke 16:13: “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (ESV; see also Matthew 6:24). If God is our Master, then our wealth will be at His disposal. In other words, the faithful and just steward whose Master is God will employ that wealth in building up the kingdom of God.

This painting is housed in the National Museum in Warsaw

 

Earliest Images of Jesus

The Bible, its themes, events and characters, are the subject of many of mankind's finest works of art.

Here, we endeavor to present a myriad of examples from the history of art.

Most items will contain information about the particular piece, and/or the artist who created it. Also, many entries provide links that will take you to the Bible story to which the image is related.

Search by Category and/or Type, or click through the pages to view and study artwork of interest.

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