Luke 16:10

10 Jesus went on to make these comments: If you're honest in small things, you'll be honest in big things;

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 "Now here's a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits.
9 I want you to be smart in the same way - but for what is right - using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you'll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior."
10 Jesus went on to make these comments: If you're honest in small things, you'll be honest in big things;
11 If you're a crook in small things, you'll be a crook in big things.
12 If you're not honest in small jobs, who will put you in charge of the store?
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.