Luke 16:9 kjv
And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Luke 16:9 nkjv
"And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.
Luke 16:9 niv
I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
Luke 16:9 esv
And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.
Luke 16:9 nlt
Here's the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.
Luke 16 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 12:33 | Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted… | Give to poor, treasure in heaven |
| Mt 6:19-21 | Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. | Earthly vs. heavenly treasure |
| Lk 16:10-12 | Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much… So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you your own? | Stewardship, trustworthiness in wealth |
| Lk 16:13 | No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money. | God vs. mammon as master |
| Mt 25:34-40 | Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance… For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink… | Receiving others, then being received |
| Prov 11:4 | Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. | Earthly wealth useless at end |
| Prov 11:24-25 | One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. | Generosity leads to prosperity (spiritual/physical) |
| 1 Tim 6:17-19 | Command those who are rich in this present world… to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is | Using wealth for good deeds, eternal reward |
| Isa 58:7 | Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter… | Sharing with the needy |
| Acts 4:32 | All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. | Early Church communal sharing |
| Jas 2:14-17 | What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?… | Faith demonstrated by deeds (generosity) |
| Heb 13:16 | And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. | Doing good, sharing pleasing to God |
| Mk 10:21 | Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” | Give away wealth for heavenly treasure |
| Phil 4:17-18 | Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. | Investment in giving credited to spiritual account |
| Deut 15:7-8, 10 | If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land… do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them… freely lend them whatever they need… Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart… | Commands to be generous to the poor |
| Amos 8:4-6 | Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land… | Condemnation of oppressing the poor |
| Jer 17:11 | Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the one who gains riches by unjust means. When his life is half gone, they will desert him, and in the end he will prove to be a fool. | Wealth by unjust means fails |
| Prov 13:7 | One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. | True wealth is not always apparent |
| Lk 14:12-14 | When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends… But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind… You will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. | Bless those who cannot repay you, for eternal reward |
| 1 Pet 4:10 | Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. | Stewardship of all resources for service |
| Tit 3:8 | …be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. | Doing good is profitable |
Luke 16 verses
Luke 16 9 Meaning
Luke 16:9 instructs believers to wisely leverage "worldly wealth," also called "mammon of unrighteousness," not for personal accumulation but for purposes that align with God's kingdom. The goal is that when this temporary earthly wealth inevitably ceases or fails (either at death or simply by its transient nature), there will be people or a spiritual "reception committee" (those who have been blessed by one's generosity) to welcome them into "eternal dwellings," signifying entrance into heaven or God's eternal presence. It's a call to shrewd, foresightful spiritual investment, similar to the shrewdness shown by the dishonest manager, though without condoning his dishonesty.
Luke 16 9 Context
Luke chapter 16 begins with the "Parable of the Dishonest Manager" (16:1-8), which immediately precedes verse 9. In this parable, a manager, about to be fired for squandering his master's possessions, shrewdly reduces the debts of his master's debtors. While dishonest, his actions show remarkable foresight in securing his future after unemployment. Jesus then praises the manager's shrewdness, not his dishonesty. This parable's challenging nature sets the stage for Luke 16:9, which provides the interpretive key and the moral application. The context also highlights Jesus' teaching on wealth, stewardship, and the Kingdom of God, often in contrast to the prevailing materialistic values, particularly those held by the Pharisees, who "loved money" (Lk 16:14). Historically, the society of Jesus' time, under Roman rule, still retained much Jewish tradition. Wealth often signified divine favor, and charitable giving (almsgiving) was considered a meritorious act, though the motivation and scope were critical to Jesus.
Luke 16 9 Word analysis
- And I say to you: Καὶ ἐγὼ ὑμῖν λέγω (Kai egō hymin legō). This marks a significant pronouncement, Jesus’ personal authoritative teaching derived from the preceding parable. It signals the practical application of the parable's lesson on foresight.
- Make friends: Ποιήσατε φίλους (Poiēsate philous). This is an imperative command, meaning "do make friends" or "create relationships." It emphasizes an active, deliberate pursuit. The "friends" are not mere beneficiaries, but potentially those who, having been aided by your earthly resources, might spiritually welcome you later.
- by means of: ἐκ (ek). The preposition indicates the source or instrument. It’s "from" or "out of" the mammon, implying using it as a resource, not earning salvation with it.
- the mammon of unrighteousness: τοῦ μαμωνᾶ τῆς ἀδικίας (tou mamōna tēs adikias).
- Mammon (μαμωνᾶ): An Aramaic word (מָמוֹנָא - mamonah) for "wealth," "money," or "possessions." It signifies material resources. It can take on personified qualities, as a rival "master" to God (Lk 16:13).
- of unrighteousness (τῆς ἀδικίας): This is a genitive of quality. It means wealth characterized by injustice, or more broadly, by its inherent fallibility, transience, and the corrupting influence it often exerts. It does not necessarily imply gained through unrighteousness, but pertaining to the unjust, worldly system, prone to misuse, or ultimately untrustworthy for eternal security. It contrasts with "true riches" (Lk 16:11).
- so that: ἵνα (hina). This is a purpose clause, stating the objective or result of making friends.
- when it fails: ἐκλίπῃ (eklipē). From ἐκλείπω (ekleipō), meaning "to give out," "to fail," "to cease," or "to expire." It points to the ephemeral nature of earthly wealth (it runs out) or, more powerfully, to the moment of death when one's relationship with earthly wealth irrevocably ends.
- they may receive you: δέξωνται ὑμᾶς (dexōntai hymas). A subjunctive verb indicating a potential, desired outcome. The identity of "they" is debated:
- The beneficiaries: The poor or needy helped by your wealth, who are now in the eternal dwellings.
- Angels: God’s agents sent to escort believers.
- God himself: While possible, the plural "they" makes this less direct.
- The primary sense is reciprocal reception: as one "received" the poor in the earthly realm, one is "received" into the heavenly.
- into the eternal dwellings: εἰς τὰς αἰωνίους σκηνάς (eis tas aiōníous skēnás).
- Eternal (αἰωνίους): Refers to something enduring perpetually, transcending time.
- Dwellings/tents (σκηνάς): "Tents" or "tabernacles." This contrasts with the manager's desire for temporary "lodgings" (σκηνάς - skēnás) from the parable (Lk 16:4). It emphasizes permanent, secure abode, implying heaven or the Kingdom of God. It draws on the imagery of the Tent of Meeting, symbolizing God's presence, and eternal glory (2 Cor 5:1).
Words-group analysis:
- Make friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness: This phrase instructs a counter-intuitive application of worldly wealth. Instead of hoarding or pursuing it for self-interest, use it strategically, relationally, and with spiritual foresight to build "credit" or relationships in the eternal realm. It's not a transactional quid-pro-quo with God for salvation, but a demonstration of one's transformed heart and priorities consistent with the values of the Kingdom. The "unrighteous" mammon highlights its flawed, transient nature, emphasizing that it cannot provide true security but can be used for ultimate gain.
- so that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings: This outlines the powerful incentive and ultimate purpose. Earthly wealth will fail, either by its inherent nature or at death. The proactive use of it for others in the present life ensures a welcoming into permanent, spiritual existence. It underscores the contrast between temporary earthly gain and eternal reward, calling for an investment strategy for eternity.
Luke 16 9 Bonus section
The seemingly paradoxical commendation of the "dishonest manager's shrewdness" (Lk 16:8) is key to understanding verse 9. Jesus is not praising his unethical behavior but his pragmatic foresight in securing his future by using what he had at hand. He implies that the "sons of this world" (unbelievers) are often more astute and resourceful in pursuing their temporal interests than the "sons of light" (believers) are in pursuing their eternal interests. Thus, verse 9 is a challenging call to imitate the manager's shrewdness and strategic thinking in the spiritual realm, rather than his dishonesty. It compels a deep evaluation of what we truly value and where our true security lies.
Luke 16 9 Commentary
Luke 16:9 is a radical reinterpretation of wealth. Far from advocating the accumulation of riches, Jesus commands a strategic expenditure of worldly wealth for eternal purposes. The "mammon of unrighteousness" is not inherently evil money, but rather the unreliable, perishing material wealth of this fallen world, prone to temptation and ultimate failure. The command to "make friends" with this mammon is a call to generosity, hospitality, and practical love for others, especially the poor and marginalized, reflecting God's heart. These actions, flowing from a sincere faith, demonstrate one's stewardship and allegiance to God rather than money. It's not about "buying" heaven but about investing one's temporary resources in ways that serve God's eternal Kingdom, evidenced by care for His people. When this earthly life ends, or when material wealth inevitably proves transient ("fails"), the "friends" (those who benefited, or heavenly hosts acknowledging acts of mercy) will be there to receive the faithful steward into "eternal dwellings"—God's glorious presence and eternal abode. The message is simple yet profound: earthly assets should be leveraged not for earthly comfort, but as tools for securing an eternal inheritance by aligning one's priorities with Christ's kingdom values of compassion and self-giving.