Luke 16:11

11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?

Luke 16:11 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
English Standard Version (ESV)
11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?
New Living Translation (NLT)
11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?
The Message Bible (MSG)
11 If you're a crook in small things, you'll be a crook in big things.
American Standard Version (ASV)
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]?
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
11 Therefore, if you can't be trusted with wealth that is often used dishonestly, who will trust you with wealth that is real?
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
11 So if you have not been faithful with the unrighteous money, who will trust you with what is genuine?
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
11 "Suppose you have not been worthy of trust in handling worldly wealth. Then who will trust you with 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 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?
13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Cross References 1

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