SEV Biblia, Chapter 16:11
Pues si en las malas riquezas no fuisteis fieles. ¿Quién os confiará lo verdadero?
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 11. If therefore ye have not been faithful , etc.] 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, [çrd ˆwmm , “mammon of ungodliness”, or “ungodly mammon” f478 ; 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 f479 , 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 f480 , gives him, tma lç ˆwmm , “mammon of truth”, or true mammon; and he makes it rqç , “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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-12 - Whatever we have, the property of it is God's; we have only the use of it, according to the direction of our great Lord, and for his honour This steward wasted his lord's goods. And we are all liable to the sam charge; we have not made due improvement of what God has trusted u with. The steward cannot deny it; he must make up his accounts, and by gone. This may teach us that death will come, and deprive us of the opportunities we now have. The steward will make friends of his lord' debtors or tenants, by striking off a considerable part of their deb to his lord. The lord referred to in this parable commended not the fraud, but the policy of the steward. In that respect alone is it s noticed. Worldly men, in the choice of their object, are foolish; but in their activity, and perseverance, they are often wiser tha believers. The unjust steward is not set before us as an example i cheating his master, or to justify any dishonesty, but to point out the careful ways of worldly men. It would be well if the children of ligh would learn wisdom from the men of the world, and would as earnestl pursue their better object. The true riches signify spiritual blessings; and if a man spends upon himself, or hoards up what God ha trusted to him, as to outward things, what evidence can he have, tha he is an heir of God through Christ? The riches of this world ar deceitful and uncertain. Let us be convinced that those are truly rich and very rich, who are rich in faith, and rich toward God, rich in Christ, in the promises; let us then lay up our treasure in heaven, an expect our portion from thence.
Greek Textus Receptus
ει 1487 COND ουν 3767 CONJ εν 1722 PREP τω 3588 T-DSN αδικω 94 A-DSN μαμωνα 3126 N-DSN 3126 ARAM πιστοι 4103 A-NPF ουκ 3756 PRT-N εγενεσθε 1096 5633 V-2ADI-2P το 3588 T-ASN αληθινον 228 A-ASN τις 5101 I-NSM υμιν 5213 P-2DP πιστευσει 4100 5692 V-FAI-3S
Robertson's NT Word Studies
16:11 {Faithful in the unrighteous mammon} (en twi adikwi mamwnai). In the use of what is considered "unrighteous" as it so often is. Condition of the first class, "if ye did not prove to be" (ei ouk egenesqe). Failure here forfeits confidence in "the true riches" (to aleqinon). There is no sadder story than to see a preacher go down by the wrong use of money, caught in this snare of the devil.
