SEV Biblia, Chapter 16:12
Y si en lo ajeno no fuisteis fieles, ¿quin os dar lo que es vuestro?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Luke 16:12
Verse 12. That which is another man's] Or rather another's, tw allotriw. That is, worldly riches, called another's: 1. Because they belong to God, and he has not designed that they should be any man's portion. 2. Because they are continually changing their possessors, being in the way of commerce, and in providence going from one to another. This property of worldly goods is often referred to by both sacred and profane writers. See a fine passage in Horace, Sat. l. ii. s. 2. v. 129. Nam propriae telluris herum natura neque illum, Nec me, nec quemquam statuit Nature will no perpetual heir assign, Nor make the farm his property, or mine. FRANCIS And the following in one of our own poets:-" Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing; 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands." That which is your own?] Grace and glory, which God has particularly designed for you; which are the only proper satisfying portion for the soul, and which no man can enjoy in their plenitude, unless he be faithful to the first small motions and influences of the Divine Spirit.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's , etc.] Which is not a man's own, but what is committed to him by another; yrja wmmb , with the mammon of others f481 , to speak in the language of the Jews; and of mammon, our Lord is speaking, and here of another man's, of which they were only stewards, as he in the preceding parable was: hence we read of wmm yrmw , keepers of mammon, who were intrusted with another's substance; and such are here supposed, which, if unfaithful in, who shall give you that which is your own ? that is, should you unjustly detain, or make an ill use of another man's substance lodged in your hands, how can you expect but that you will be dealt with in like manner by others, who will not pay you yours, they have in their possession, but convert it to their own use? A like distinction of another's and a man's own, may be observed among the Jews: there are (say they f483 ,) four sorts of men in respect of giving alms; he that would give, but would not have others give, his eye is evil, yrja lb , in that which is other men's (i.e. as the commentator observes f484 , lest the goods of others should be increased, and they get a good name); he that would that others should give, but he will not give himself, his eye is evil, wlb , in that which is his own; he that gives, and would have others give, he is a good man; he that neither gives, nor would have others give, he is an ungodly man; (see Romans 5:7,8). Interpreters generally understand by that which is another man's, in the first clause, the things of this world, which men are possessed of, because these are not of themselves, but from another, from God; and they are but stewards, rather than proprietors of them; and they are for the good of others, and not for themselves; and are not lasting, but in a little while will pass from them to others: and by that which is your own, they understand the good things of grace and glory, which, when once bestowed on man, are his own property, and for his own use, and will never be alienated from him, but will always abide with him: but if he is unfaithful in the former, how should he expect the latter to be given to him?
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
και 2532 CONJ ει 1487 COND εν 1722 PREP τω 3588 T-DSM αλλοτριω 245 A-DSM πιστοι 4103 A-NPF ουκ 3756 PRT-N εγενεσθε 1096 5633 V-2ADI-2P το 3588 T-ASN υμετερον 5212 S-2APN τις 5101 I-NSM υμιν 5213 P-2DP δωσει 1325 5692 V-FAI-3S
Robertson's NT Word Studies
16:12 {That which is your own} (to h-meteron). But Westcott and Hort read to hemeteron (our own) because of B L Origen. The difference is due to itacism in the pronunciation of h-- and h alike (long i). But the point in the passage calls for "yours" as correct. Earthly wealth is ours as a loan, a trust, withdrawn at any moment. It belongs to another (en twi allotriwi). If you did not prove faithful in this , who will give you what is really yours forever? Compare "rich toward God" (#Lu 12:21).
