Luke 16:10

10 Someone who is trustworthy in a small matter is also trustworthy in large ones, and someone who is dishonest in a small matter is also dishonest in large ones.

Luke 16:10 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 16:10

He that is faithful in that which is least
In quantity and quality, especially the latter; in that which is of little value and worth, at least when compared with other things:

is faithful also in much:
in matters of greater consequence and importance: the sense of the proverb is, that, generally speaking, a man that acts a faithful part in a small trust committed to him, does so likewise in a much larger; and being tried, and found faithful in things of less moment, he is intrusted with things of greater importance; though this is not always the case: for sometimes a man may behave with great integrity in lesser matters, on purpose that he might gain greater confidence, which, when he has obtained, he abuses in the vilest manner; but because it is usually otherwise, our Lord uses the common proverb; and of like sense is the following;

and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much:
that man that acts the unfaithful part in a small matter, and of little worth, generally does the same, if a greater trust is committed to him.

Luke 16:10 In-Context

8 "And the employer of this dishonest manager applauded him for acting so shrewdly! For the worldly have more sekhel than those who have received the light -- in dealing with their own kind of people!
9 "Now what I say to you is this: use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves, so that when it gives out, you may be welcomed into the eternal home.
10 Someone who is trustworthy in a small matter is also trustworthy in large ones, and someone who is dishonest in a small matter is also dishonest in large ones.
11 So if you haven't been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who is going to trust you with the real thing?
12 And if you haven't been trustworthy with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what ought to belong to you?
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.