11 If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Who will commit - If you are not faithful in the small matters pertaining to this world, if you do not use aright your property and influence, you cannot expect that God will commit to you the true riches of his grace. Men who are dishonest and worldly, and who do not employ the deceitful mammon as they ought, cannot expect to grow in grace. God does not confer grace upon them, and their being unfaithful in earthly matters is evidence that they "would be" also in much greater affairs, and would likewise "misimprove" the true riches.
True riches - The graces of the gospel; the influences of the Spirit; eternal life, or religion. The riches of this world are false, deceitful, not to be trusted Luke 16:9; the treasures of heaven are "true," faithful, never-failing, Matthew 6:19-20.
If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the (c) true [riches]?
(c) That is, heavenly and true riches, which are contrary to material wealth which is worldly and quickly departing.
If therefore ye have not been faithful,.... This is the application of the above proverbial expressions, and seems to be directed to the disciples of Christ, though not without a view to the covetous Scribes and Pharisees, who were in hearing of it, and were disturbed at it, Luke 16:14 and the meaning is, that whereas some of them might have been unfaithful, and have acted the unjust part of gathering of riches, as Matthew, and other publicans, that were now become the followers of Christ; if therefore they should be unfaithful
in the unrighteous mammon; in the disposing of it to improper uses, which was either unrighteously gotten, and therefore called, as it sometimes was, , "mammon of ungodliness", or "ungodly mammon" (x); or, which was fallacious, deceitful, vain, and transitory:
who will commit to your trust the true riches; or mammon? that is, how should you expect to be intrusted with the riches of grace, as the blessings and promises of the covenant of grace, the graces of the Spirit of God, which truly enrich persons, and are solid and durable? or the riches of glory, the better and more enduring substance in heaven, signified by a kingdom, and an inheritance that fadeth not away? so the Jews call the good things of another world, and say (y), that
"all the good things of this world are not , "true good things", in comparison of the good things of the world to come.''
And they use the same distinction with respect to "mammon", as here:
"the holy, blessed God, they say (z), gives him, , "mammon of truth", or true mammon; and he makes it "false", or deceitful:''
or rather the rich treasure of the Gospel is meant, called a treasure in earthen vessels, and the unsearchable riches of Christ; and is comparable to, and of more worth than gold, silver, and precious stones. And so the Syriac version renders it, "who will trust you with the truth?" with the truth of the Gospel.
(x) Targum in Habakkuk. ii. 9. (y) Tzeror Hammor, fol. 23. 2. (z) Shemot Rabba, sect. 31. fol. 134. 4.
unrighteous mammon--To the whole of this He applies the disparaging term "what is least," in contrast with "the true riches."
If ye have not been faithful. If one is faithless in an earthly trust, how can he expect to receive a heavenly trust?
Another's. That which belongs to God. All who have property should understand that it is another's.
Your own. The true riches, because they become a part of our being, the inalienable possession of the redeemed.
Who will intrust you with the true riches? - How should God intrust you with spiritual and eternal, which alone are true riches?
*More commentary available at chapter level.