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Luke 16

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.

And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

What does Luke 16:10 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 16:10 speaks to the moral and ethical integrity of individuals in relation to their responsibilities, irrespective of the scale.

Literally, the verse suggests that a person who is trustworthy in handling small matters or possessions will also be trustworthy with larger ones.

Conversely, a person who is unrighteous or dishonest with trivial matters will likely be dishonest when it comes to significant matters.

On a deeper level, this can be interpreted as a principle of character; that true ethical behavior is consistent across all situations, and that small actions are indicative of larger behavioral patterns.

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Historical Context

Luke 16:10 is a part of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament, which was written to convey the life, teachings, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The verse is part of a longer passage in which Jesus is teaching his disciples about stewardship and the use of worldly wealth.

During this time, society was heavily stratified, and there was a clear distinction between the wealthy and the poor.

The use of wealth and resources was a pertinent issue for the early Christian communities, and teachings on faithful stewardship were meant to guide believers in their daily lives.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, the verse is often seen as a statement about stewardship, the idea that humans are caretakers of God's creation and should act responsibly with the resources entrusted to them.

Another viewpoint could be that the verse speaks to the consistency of one's character and the importance of integrity.

The passage can be understood as a lesson in the inherent value of faithfulness, irrespective of the magnitude of the task at hand.

Some theologians might argue that the verse underscores the principle that earthly behavior has eternal significance, highlighting the Christian belief in accountability to God.

Practical Applications

In daily life, Luke 16:10 can be applied in various contexts such as business, personal relationships, and overall ethical conduct.

For instance, in the workplace, employees who show diligence and integrity in minor tasks are often entrusted with greater responsibilities.

On a personal level, the verse calls for consistency in one's actions, promoting trustworthiness and reliability.

Essentially, the verse encourages individuals to be conscientious and morally upright in all aspects of life, not just when it is visible or seems significant.

Cross-References

Matthew 25:21 "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
Matthew 25:23 "His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
Proverbs 28:20 "A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of this verse are:

"πιστὸς" (pistos), meaning "faithful" or "trustworthy."
"ἐλάχιστον" (elachiston), indicating "that which is least" or "very small."
"πολύ" (poly), translated as "much" or "great." The term for "unjust" or "unrighteous" is "ἀδικίᾳ" (adikia), which can refer to dishonesty, injustice, or morally wrong actions.

By analyzing the original language, we see that the verse emphasizes the polarities of character, contrasting faithfulness and injustice.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this verse to other ancient myths and religious teachings reveals a common theme of integrity across different cultures.

Many ancient wisdom traditions, such as those in Confucianism or the Hindu concept of Dharma, emphasize the importance of faithfulness and integrity in daily conduct.

In these traditions, one's actions in seemingly insignificant matters are often seen as reflecting their true character and harmony with the larger order of the universe.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, particularly in behavioral psychology, the verse might be supported by the theory of consistency and cognitive dissonance.

This theory suggests that individuals seek consistency in their beliefs, values, and behaviors.

When actions align with beliefs, a person experiences harmony; when there is a discrepancy, cognitive dissonance occurs, leading to discomfort.

The verse's premise that a person's behavior in small things predicts their behavior in greater things aligns with the idea that humans strive for consistency.

commentaries

Commentators on this verse, such as Matthew Henry and William Barclay, have often highlighted the importance of integrity and faithfulness as central to Christian ethics.

Matthew Henry comments that it is in the little things where people often show their true colors, and these are the proving ground for greater responsibilities.

William Barclay focuses on the application of this principle to how one handles wealth and possessions, emphasizing that it is not the amount that matters but the faithfulness with which one manages what they have.

These interpretations by Christian scholars reflect a consensus that the verse calls for integrity in all aspects of life, large or small.

Luke 16

Luke 16

What does Luke 16:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 16:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?