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.
And the lord (that is, the steward's lord, as he is expressly called in Luke 16:3 ; Luke 16:5 ), commended the unjust steward - not the injustice of the steward; for what master would praise his servant for defrauding him? but he commended the man,
Because he had done wisely, х fronimoos (G5430)] - 'shrewdly,' 'sagaciously,' 'prudently;' with commendable promptitude, foresight, and skillful adaptation of means to end: for "men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself" (Psalms 49:18).
For - this, now, is the reflection of the glorious Speaker of the parable,
The children of this world are in their generation, х eis (G1519) teen (G3588) genean (G1074) teen (G3588) heautoon (G1438)] - rather, 'for their own generation;' that is, for the purposes of their own kind, or sort, or class; their own sphere of interest and action,
Wiser, х fronimooteroi (G5429)] - 'shrewder'
Than the children of [the] light, х tou (G3588) footos (G5457)]. Let us examine this most weighty saying. It divides all men, according to the all-pervading doctrine of Scripture, into two great classes. The one is called "THE CHILDREN OF THIS WORLD" х tou (G3588) aioonos (G165) toutou (G5127)] - (see the note at Ephesians 2:2), meaning what we call worldlings. The Psalmist, after calling this class "men of this world," gives the following striking definition of what he means - "who have their portion in this life" (Psalms 17:14); and of the same class the apostle says, they "mind" х fronountes (G5426)] or 'are taken up with,' "earthly things" (Philippians 3:19). Their whole ambition, whether their inclinations be grovelling or refined, is bounded by the present sphere, and they have no taste for anything, beyond it. The other class are beautifully called "THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT," as being the offspring of supernatural heavenly teaching, for "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6). "While ye have the Light х to (G3588) foos (G5457)], believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light" (John 12:36). "Ye are all the children of the light and of the day" (1 Thessalonians 5:5).
See also Ephesians 5:8. And yet, though the latter class are to the former as superior as light is to darkness, the children of this world have in one point the advantage of the children of light-they excel them in the shrewdness with which they prosecute their proper business. It is not that they are more truly wise; but that in their own sphere they display a sagacity which the children of light may well emulate, and should strive to outdo. Their sphere is indeed a wretched enough one. But let the children of light observe what a definite and firm grasp they take of the objects at which they aim; how shrewdly they adapt their means to their ends, and with what untiring energy, determination, and perseverance they prosecute their purposes. All these are wasted, to be sure, on perishable objects and in fleeting enjoyments. Spiritual and eternal realities are a region they never penetrate-the new life is an air they never breathe, an undiscovered world, an unborn existence: they know nothing, sympathize with nothing, live for nothing but "their own generation." But why should such excel the children of light in anything? This is exactly what our Lord here says they should not; and in giving forth this parable He would stir up our jealousy to roll away that reproach-just as on another occasion He sends us for lessons of this same "wisdom to venomous "serpents" (Matthew 10:16).
Having laid down the great general principle, that 'it is not enough to have a high and holy sphere of action, but there must be such a discreet and determined prosecution of its objects as the children of this world so much excel in'-our Lord now comes to particulars; and, first, to that point of wisdom which the parable most directly illustrates.