The Meaning of Luke 16:10 Explained

Luke 16:10

KJV: 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.

YLT: He who is faithful in the least, is also faithful in much; and he who in the least is unrighteous, is also unrighteous in much;

Darby: He that is faithful in the least is faithful also in much; and he that is unrighteous in the least is unrighteous also in much.

ASV: He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Luke 16:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 16:1-13 - The Right Use Of Money
We are all stewards, but how much we waste! Well might our Master deprive us of our post and trust! The unjust steward used his opportunity of ingratiating himself with the tenants at the landowner's cost. He thus secured for himself a welcome to their homes, when his defalcations came to light and he was dismissed. Our Master did not commend his fraud, but pointed out that the children of this world are singularly alive to their future and prepare for its contingencies. If they make a wrong use of money to provide for the future, how much more should Christians make a right use of it, so that when they die they may be welcomed to the eternal home by those whom they have benefited!
Money is described as unrighteous Mammon, the name of the heathen god of wealth. It is so often associated with cheating that the adjective is most appropriate. Note also that money is "the least" and "not that which is our own," but God's, to be used by us as His servants and at His direction, [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 16

1  The parable of the unjust steward
14  Jesus reproves the hypocrisy of the covetous Pharisees
19  The parable of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar

Greek Commentary for Luke 16:10

Faithful in a very little [πιστος εν ελαχιστωι]
Elative superlative. One of the profoundest sayings of Christ. We see it in business life. The man who can be trusted in a very small thing will be promoted to large responsibilities. That is the way men climb to the top. Men who embezzle in large sums began with small sums. Luke 16:10-13 here explain the point of the preceding parables. [source]
That which is least []
A general proposition, yet with a reference to mammon as the least of things. See Luke 16:11. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 16:10

Luke 16:10 Faithful in a very little [πιστος εν ελαχιστωι]
Elative superlative. One of the profoundest sayings of Christ. We see it in business life. The man who can be trusted in a very small thing will be promoted to large responsibilities. That is the way men climb to the top. Men who embezzle in large sums began with small sums. Luke 16:10-13 here explain the point of the preceding parables. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 16:10 mean?

The [one] faithful with very little also much faithful is and unrighteous unrighteous
πιστὸς ἐν ἐλαχίστῳ καὶ πολλῷ πιστός ἐστιν καὶ ἄδικος ἄδικός

  The  [one] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πιστὸς  faithful 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: πιστός  
Sense: trusty, faithful.
ἐλαχίστῳ  very  little 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Neuter Singular, Superlative
Root: ἐλάχιστος  
Sense: smallest least.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
πολλῷ  much 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.
πιστός  faithful 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: πιστός  
Sense: trusty, faithful.
ἄδικος  unrighteous 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄδικος 
Sense: descriptive of one who violates or has violated justice.
ἄδικός  unrighteous 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄδικος 
Sense: descriptive of one who violates or has violated justice.