He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
Parallel translations
- KJV 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.
- BSB 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.
- NKJV He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
- NASB “The one who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and the one who is unrighteous in a very little thing is also unrighteous in much.
- NLT “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Faithfulness in small things proves faithfulness in great; dishonesty in little betrays dishonesty in much. Character is consistent.
Overview
Jesus states a principle of stewardship: how we handle small matters reveals our true character. Trustworthiness is tested first in lesser things, like money. This calls believers to integrity in everyday affairs as the proving ground for greater spiritual responsibility.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Luke 16:11–12If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
- Matt 25:21“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
- Luke 19:17“He said to him, ‘Well done, you good servant! Because you were found faithful with very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’
- Matt 25:23“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
- Heb 3:2who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house.
- John 13:27After the piece of bread, then Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
- John 12:6Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.
- John 13:2During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 16:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.