Luke 16:11

11 If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

Luke 16:11 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 16:11

If therefore ye have not been faithful
This is the application of the above proverbial expressions, and seems to be directed to the disciples of Christ, though not without a view to the covetous Scribes and Pharisees, who were in hearing of it, and were disturbed at it, ( Luke 16:14 ) and the meaning is, that whereas some of them might have been unfaithful, and have acted the unjust part of gathering of riches, as Matthew, and other publicans, that were now become the followers of Christ; if therefore they should be unfaithful

in the unrighteous mammon;
in the disposing of it to improper uses, which was either unrighteously gotten, and therefore called, as it sometimes was, (evrd Nwmm) , "mammon of ungodliness", or "ungodly mammon" F24; or, which was fallacious, deceitful, vain, and transitory:

who will commit to your trust the true riches;
or mammon? that is, how should you expect to be intrusted with the riches of grace, as the blessings and promises of the covenant of grace, the graces of the Spirit of God, which truly enrich persons, and are solid and durable? or the riches of glory, the better and more enduring substance in heaven, signified by a kingdom, and an inheritance that fadeth not away? so the Jews call the good things of another world, and say F25, that

``all the good things of this world are not (twytma twbwj) , "true good things", in comparison of the good things of the world to come.''

And they use the same distinction with respect to "mammon", as here:

``the holy, blessed God, they say F26, gives him, (tma lv) (Nwmm) , "mammon of truth", or true mammon; and he makes it (rqv) , "false", or deceitful:''

or rather the rich treasure of the Gospel is meant, called a treasure in earthen vessels, and the unsearchable riches of Christ; and is comparable to, and of more worth than gold, silver, and precious stones. And so the Syriac version renders it, "who will trust you with the truth?" with the truth of the Gospel.


FOOTNOTES:

F24 Targum in Hab. ii. 9.
F25 Tzeror Hammor, fol. 23. 2.
F26 Shemot Rabba, sect. 31. fol. 134. 4.

Luke 16:11 In-Context

9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.
10 "Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.
11 If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?
12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own?
13 No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

Footnotes 1

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.