Luke 16:12

And if you have not been faithful with the belongings of another, who will give you belongings of your own?

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus speaks to his disciples in Luke 16, immediately following the parable of the shrewd manager and the warning against serving both God and money. He addresses them directly regarding their handling of temporary, non-personal wealth.

The words — The Greek ἀλλοτρίῳ (allotriō) means "of another," paired with πιστοὶ (pistoi) for "faithful." The phrase ἐν τῷ ἀλλοτρῷ πιστοὶ οὐκ ἐγένεσθε literally states "in that which belongs to another, faithful you have not been."

The thread — The concept of delegated temporary resources appears in Luke 19:13 and Matthew 25:14, where masters assign funds to servants for business until their return. This stewardship model stands in contrast to Job 1:21, which describes God's direct sovereignty in giving and taking away rather than human delegation.

Why it lands — The text establishes a conditional principle: failure to manage borrowed or temporary assets disqualifies one from receiving personal, lasting inheritance. It requires readers to demonstrate concrete reliability with external resources before claiming spiritual authority.

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

καὶkaiAnd εἰeiif ἐνenin τῷtōthat which [is]ἀλλοτρίῳallotriōof another πιστοὶpistoifaithful οὐκouknot ἐγένεσθε,egenestheyou have been,τὸtothat which ὑμέτερονhumeteron[is] yours τίςtiswho ὑμῖνhuminto you δώσει;¶dōseiwill give

King James Version

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

Cross-references

Luke 19:13 Beforehand, he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Conduct business with this until I return,’ he said.
Job 1:21 saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Matthew 25:14 For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions.
1 Chronicles 29:14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.
1 Peter 1:4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,
Ezekiel 16:16 You took some of your garments and made colorful high places for yourself, and on them you prostituted yourself. Such things should not have happened; never should they have occurred!
Hosea 2:8 For she does not acknowledge that it was I who gave her grain, new wine, and oil, who lavished on her silver and gold—which they crafted for Baal.
Luke 10:42 But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.