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LUKE 16:8 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Luke 16:7Luke 16:9
And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light — the master commended him: the rich man's commendation is for the shrewdness, not the dishonesty. The people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind: the diagnosis of the disciples' failure — those oriented toward this world show more practical wisdom in pursuing their goals than those oriented toward the kingdom show in pursuing theirs.

Church Fathers on Luke 16:8

The steward whom his Lord cast out of his stewardship is nevertheless commended because he provided himself against the future. As it follows, And the Lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely; we ought not however to take the whole for our imitation. For we should never act deceitfully against our Lord in order that from the fraud itself we may give alms.

Augustine · 4th century

But because the Gentiles say that wisdom is a virtue, and define it to be the experience of what is good, evil, and indifferent, or the knowledge of what is and what is not to be done, we must consider whether this word signifies many things, or one. For it is said that God by wisdom prepared the heavens. Now it is plain that wisdom is good, because the Lord by wisdom prepared the heavens. It is said also in Genesis, according to the LXX, that the serpent was the wisest…

Origen · 3rd century

The children of light and the children of this world are spoken of in the same manner as the children of the kingdom, and the children of hell. For whatever works a man does, he is also termed their sun.

Bede · 8th century
Read all 24 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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