Luke 16:10

10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

Luke 16:10 in Other Translations

KJV
10 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.
ESV
10 "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
NLT
10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
MSG
10 Jesus went on to make these comments: If you're honest in small things, you'll be honest in big things;
CSB
10 Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much.

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 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

Cross References 1

  • 1. Matthew 25:21,23; Luke 19:17
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