Luke 16 12

Luke 16:12 kjv

And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

Luke 16:12 nkjv

And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?

Luke 16:12 niv

And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?

Luke 16:12 esv

And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?

Luke 16:12 nlt

And if you are not faithful with other people's things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?

Luke 16 verses

Luke 16 12 Meaning

This verse declares a fundamental spiritual principle: if one cannot be trusted to manage material possessions and earthly resources, which are ultimately not one's own but entrusted by God, then how can they expect God to entrust them with true spiritual riches and eternal inheritance, which are meant to be their eternal possession? It highlights a direct link between faithfulness in handling worldly affairs and receiving divine, eternal blessings.

Luke 16 12 Context

Luke chapter 16 unfolds Jesus' teachings on wealth, stewardship, and eternal priorities, particularly challenging the materialistic views of the Pharisees. The preceding verses (Lk 16:1-9) recount the parable of the shrewd manager, where a dishonest steward uses worldly wisdom to secure his future. Jesus then draws lessons for His disciples, urging them to use "unrighteous mammon" for spiritual gain (Lk 16:9). Verses 10-12, including the verse in question, act as a series of explanatory principles, stating that faithfulness in little things (including material wealth) is a prerequisite for receiving greater, true riches from God. Immediately after, Jesus asserts that one cannot serve both God and money (Lk 16:13), prompting a mocking reaction from the money-loving Pharisees (Lk 16:14), against whom Jesus directs further sharp warnings (Lk 16:15-18). Thus, Luke 16:12 sits as a core axiom connecting one's present handling of temporary resources to their eternal spiritual destiny.

Luke 16 12 Word analysis

• And if: Introduces a conditional statement, implying a direct consequence based on the faithfulness demonstrated. It sets up a challenge or a test.
• you: Refers primarily to Jesus' disciples and, by extension, all who claim to follow Him. It's a direct address to their personal conduct and responsibility.
• have not been faithful: The Greek is ouk egenesthe pistoi (οὐκ ἐγένεσθε πιστοί), meaning "you were not faithful." This speaks of a lack of trustworthiness, reliability, or integrity in handling the assigned responsibility. It denotes failure in stewarding.
• in what is another's: The Greek is en tō allotriō (ἐν τῷ ἀλλοτρίῳ).
  • Allotrio means "belonging to another," "another's property," "foreign."
  • This refers specifically to earthly wealth, possessions, and resources. The crucial point is that these are not our inherent property; they belong to God. We are merely temporary managers or stewards. This term encompasses all worldly assets, material goods, opportunities, and even time or talents that God entrusts to individuals for a period.
• who will give you: This is a rhetorical question implying that no one, especially not God, will grant genuine eternal possessions. It signifies the source of true riches is divine. If human trustworthiness is lacking, divine trust will not be bestowed.
• what is your own?: The Greek is to hymeteron idion (τὸ ὑμέτερον ἴδιον).
  • Idion means "one's own," "private," "peculiar to oneself."
  • This stands in stark contrast to "what is another's." It signifies the spiritual, eternal treasures, blessings, and inheritance that are genuinely and permanently bestowed by God. This includes salvation, spiritual discernment, heavenly reward, true peace, the divine nature, and an eternal dwelling in God's presence. It is the "true riches" mentioned in the preceding verse (Lk 16:11). These are possessions that no one can take away, reserved for those faithful in the lesser, temporary realm.

Words-group by words-group analysis data:

• "if you have not been faithful": This phrase establishes the condition for not receiving future blessings. It's a test of character and stewardship. The emphasis is on demonstrated loyalty and responsibility.
• "in what is another's" vs. "what is your own": This juxtaposition is central to the verse's meaning. It contrasts temporary, entrusted earthly possessions (God's property managed by us) with eternal, divinely bestowed spiritual blessings (our ultimate inheritance). It reveals a progression: prove oneself with the borrowed, and then inherit the genuinely owned. It subtly counters the human tendency to claim ownership over material things.
• "who will give you what is your own?": This rhetorical question underscores the impossibility of receiving ultimate spiritual gifts without prior faithfulness in material stewardship. It implies that God is the sole giver of "what is your own" and that He has a just standard for distribution based on prior conduct.

Luke 16 12 Bonus section

This verse implies that true spiritual wealth cannot be "earned" in the worldly sense, but is rather "given" by God based on a demonstrated principle of faithfulness. It reveals God as the ultimate giver and arbiter of all possessions, both earthly and heavenly. The emphasis is not on the amount of wealth one possesses, but on the faithfulness with which it is managed. This is a critical distinction from prosperity gospel interpretations, which might suggest wealth accumulation itself is the blessing. Instead, Luke 16:12 focuses on righteous stewardship regardless of one's material abundance. It also highlights God's wisdom in allowing earthly resources to serve as a proving ground for spiritual maturity and eternal destiny.

Luke 16 12 Commentary

Luke 16:12 serves as a pivotal ethical and theological statement in Jesus' teaching on wealth and stewardship. It reveals God's economy, where human faithfulness with material resources directly correlates with the divine entrustment of spiritual realities. "What is another's" refers to all earthly assets – wealth, time, talents, relationships, opportunities – all of which are ultimately God's and merely lent to us for a temporary stewardship. "What is your own" denotes the eternal, imperishable spiritual blessings of the Kingdom of God, including true spiritual wealth, eternal life, and an authentic, enduring relationship with God. The principle is clear: God tests our reliability in managing the temporary and physical to determine our readiness for the eternal and spiritual. Our integrity in handling worldly resources is seen by God as a direct indicator of our capacity and trustworthiness to handle true, spiritual treasures. Disloyalty in the former forfeits the latter.For example, a person who misuses wealth, hoard it selfishly, or acquires it through unrighteous means demonstrates a lack of faithfulness. Such an individual, in God's view, would not be entrusted with the spiritual understanding, divine favor, or eternal reward that accompanies true discipleship. Conversely, one who manages their earthly resources with integrity, generosity, and in service of God's Kingdom proves themselves worthy of eternal inheritance.