Devine Scripture

Luke 16:11

What does Luke 16:11 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 16:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 16:11 means

Jesus connects faithfulness with earthly wealth to the ability to be trusted with spiritual riches. He calls material wealth "unrighteous mammon" because of its fallen nature and potential to corrupt, but it serves as a testing ground. If one cannot be trusted to manage worldly, temporary resources faithfully, then God will not entrust them with eternal, spiritual "true riches," which are infinitely more valuable and enduring. This highlights the severe spiritual implications of materialism.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

If, then, you have not been true in your use of the wealth of this life, who will give into your care the true wealth?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

if, then, in the unrighteous mammon ye became not faithful--the true who will entrust to you?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

If then you have not been faithful in the unjust mammon, who will trust you with that which is the true?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who shall entrust to you the true?

Context

Building on the general principle of faithfulness from verse 10, Jesus now applies it specifically to the handling of money and possessions. This verse directly links one's stewardship of material wealth ("unrighteous mammon") to their fitness for spiritual blessings. It sets up the broader point about serving God versus money in verse 13, showing the progression of Jesus' teaching on worldly resources and eternal priorities.

v.10He 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.

v.11This passage

v.12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 18:22

    And when Jesus heard it, he said unto him, One thing thou lackest yet: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

  • Revelation 3:18

    I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.

  • Proverbs 8:18

    Riches and honor are with me; Yea, durable wealth and righteousness.

  • Ephesians 3:8

    Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

  • Luke 12:33

    Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth.

  • Luke 16:9

    And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles.

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