Wisely (dpoviuws). See on Matt. x. 16. Wye., prudently. I would suggest shrewdly, though in the modern sense of saga- ciously, since the earlier sense of shrewd was malicious, or wicked. Plato says: “ All knowledge separated from right- eousness and other virtue appears to be cunning and not wisdom.” In Matt. vii. 24-26, it is applied to the sagacious
394 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. XVL
man who built his house on the rock, opposed to the foolish
*(w@pés) man who built on the sand. “It is a middle term, not bringing out prominently the moral characteristics, either good or evil, of the action to which it is applied, but recognizing in it askilful adaptation of the means to the end—affirming noth- ing in the way of moral approbation or disapprobation, either of means or end, but leaving their worth to be determined by other considerations” (Trench, ‘‘ Parables ”).
In their generation (eis tiv yeveav THY Eavtav). The A. V. misses the point, following Wye. Lit., im reference to their own generation ; i.e., the body of the children of this world to which they belong, and are kindred. They are shrewd in deal- ing with their own kind ; since, as is shown in the parable, where the debtors were accomplices of the steward they are all alike unscrupulous. Tynd., in their kind.
Than the children of light. Lit., sons of the light. The men of the world make their intercourse with one another more profitable than the sons of light do ¢thecr intercourse with their own kind. The latter “forget to use God’s goods to form bonds of love to the contemporaries who share their character ” (Godet) ; forget to “make friends of the mammon,” etc.
9. Make to yourselves friends. Compare Virgil, “ Ae- neid,” vi., 664. Among the tenants of Elysium he sees “ those who, by good desert, made others mindful of them.”
Of the mammon of unrighteousness (é« Tod paywva tis adixias). The same idiom as in ver. 8, steward of injustice. Compare unrighteous mammon, ver. 11. Mammon should be spelt with one m. It is a Chaldee word, meaning riches. It occurs only in this chapter and at Matt. vi. 24. “ Of the mammon” is, literally, by means of. In the phrase of un- righteousness, there is implied no condemnation of property as such ; but it is styled wnrighteous, or belonging to unrighteous- ness, because it is the characteristic and representative object and delight and desire of the selfish and unrighteous world :
Cu. XVL] LUKE. 395
their love of it being a root of all evil (1 Tim. vi. 10). Wye. the riches of wickedness.
Ve fail (éxAcrnre). But all the best texts read é«Aimy, “ when at (the mammon) fails.”
They may receive. The friends. Habitations (cxnvas). Lit., tents or tabernacles.
10. That which is least. A general proposition, yet with a reference to mammon as the Jeast of things. See next verse.
11. Faithful. Fidelity is, therefore, possible toward the un- righteous mammon.
12. That which is another’s. God’s. Riches are not owrs, but giver us in trust.
Your own. Equivalent to the true riches. That which forms part of our eternal being—the redeemed self. Compare the parable of the Rich Fool (ch. xii. 20), where the fe or soul is distinguished from the possessions. ‘‘ Thy soul shall be required ; whose shall the wealth be?” Compare, also, rich to- ward God (ch. xii. 21). Chrysostom, cited by Trench, says of Abraham and Job, “‘ They did not serve mammon, but possessed and ruled themselves, and were masters, and not servants.”
13. Servant (oixérys). Properly, household servant. Serve. See on minister, Matt. xx. 26.
The other. See on Matt. vi. 24.
Hold to. Seeon Matt. vi. 24.
14. Covetous (pirdpyvpo). Rev. renders literally, accord- ing to the composition of the word, lovers of money. Only here
396 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu, XVI.