Bible Strands
Luke 16:10
Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses his listeners immediately after the parable of the shrewd manager (Luke 16:1–9), pivoting from a specific story to a general principle about stewardship.
The words — ἐλαχίστῳ (elachistō) is the superlative of "small," not merely "a little" but "the very least," sharpening the contrast with πολλῷ (pollō), "much."
The thread — The same logic appears in the parables of the talents (Matthew 25:21) and the minas (Luke 19:17), where a master commends a servant for faithfulness in a small matter and then grants greater authority.
Why it lands — The verse treats small, unglamorous responsibilities as the actual test of character, not a warm-up for something more important.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
Cross-references
- Luke 16:11 So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches?
- Matthew 25:21 His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
- Luke 19:17 His master replied, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you shall have authority over ten cities.’
- Matthew 25:23 His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
- Hebrews 3:2 He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.
- John 12:6 Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.
- John 13:27 And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
- John 13:2 The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.