Luke 16:9

And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

And I {G2504} say {G3004} unto you {G5213}, Make {G4160} to yourselves {G1438} friends {G5384} of {G1537} the mammon {G3126} of unrighteousness {G93}; that {G2443}, when {G3752} ye fail {G1587}, they may receive {G1209} you {G5209} into {G1519} everlasting {G166} habitations {G4633}.

“Now what I say to you is this: use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves, so that when it gives out, you may be welcomed into the eternal home.

I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, they will welcome you into eternal dwellings.

And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles.

Luke 16:9 is a pivotal and often debated verse that concludes Jesus' parable of the Unjust Steward. It offers profound insight into the Christian approach to wealth and eternal destiny, urging believers to use their earthly resources with heavenly foresight.

Context of Luke 16:9

This verse follows directly after Jesus' parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-8). In the parable, a steward, facing dismissal, shrewdly reduces his master's debtors' bills to gain favor for his future. Jesus commends the steward's worldly wisdom—not his dishonesty—but his foresight and decisive action in preparing for his future. Luke 16:9 then applies this principle to the spiritual realm, challenging disciples to be equally astute with their spiritual and material resources. It sets the stage for further teachings on the impossibility of serving both God and mammon, as found in Luke 16:13.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Stewardship of Wealth: The primary message is about how believers should manage their material possessions. The "mammon of unrighteousness" refers to earthly wealth, which is often tainted by sin or is inherently transient and unreliable. Jesus calls His followers to use this temporary wealth for eternal purposes, transforming it into an investment in their heavenly future.
  • Eternal Perspective: The verse emphasizes living with an eternal mindset. Our earthly resources are temporary, but their faithful use can yield everlasting rewards. This echoes the teaching about storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth, as found in Matthew 6:19-21.
  • Spiritual Wisdom and Foresight: Just as the unjust steward used his worldly wisdom to secure his earthly future, Jesus encourages His disciples to apply similar shrewdness and foresight to their spiritual lives. This involves using money and possessions in ways that glorify God and benefit others, thereby preparing for eternity.
  • Heavenly Welcome: The phrase "they may receive you into everlasting habitations" suggests that faithful stewardship of wealth, particularly through acts of generosity and charity, will result in a divine welcome into heaven. This could refer to those who were helped by your generosity acting as witnesses, or more broadly, God Himself receiving those who have been faithful stewards.

Linguistic Insights

  • Mammon (mamōnas): This Aramaic word, transliterated into Greek, refers specifically to wealth, money, or possessions. It is often personified in the Bible, highlighting its powerful influence over human lives. The KJV's "mammon of unrighteousness" signifies its earthly, often corrupting, or unreliable nature, distinguishing it from truly righteous, divine resources.
  • Everlasting Habitations: The Greek phrase tas aiōniou skēnas literally means "the eternal tents" or "eternal dwellings." This vividly contrasts the temporary nature of earthly wealth and life with the permanence of heaven, underscoring the ultimate destination of faithful believers.

Practical Application

Luke 16:9 challenges believers to rethink their relationship with money. It's not about accumulating wealth for its own sake, but about leveraging it for eternal impact. This can involve:

  • Generous Giving: Using your financial resources to support the work of God's kingdom, helping the poor, and advancing the Gospel. As 1 Timothy 6:18-19 advises the rich to be generous and willing to share, laying up treasure for themselves in the coming age.
  • Ethical Business Practices: Conducting financial affairs with integrity and righteousness, reflecting God's character in all transactions.
  • Kingdom Investment: Viewing every financial decision through the lens of eternity, asking how it can contribute to God's purposes rather than solely personal gain. This aligns with the broader biblical principle of being good stewards of God's diverse grace.

Ultimately, this verse is a call to spiritual wisdom: to use the temporary and often flawed resources of this world in such a way that it secures a blessed and eternal welcome into God's presence.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 19:21

    Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me.

  • Matthew 6:24

    No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

  • 1 Timothy 6:17

    Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

  • 1 Timothy 6:19

    Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

  • Daniel 4:27

    Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

  • Luke 16:11

    If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]?

  • Proverbs 19:17

    ¶ He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
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