The lord commended - Viz. the master of this unjust steward. He spoke highly of the address and cunning of his iniquitous servant. He had, on his own principles, made a very prudent provision for his support; but his master no more approved of his conduct in this, than he did in his wasting his substance before. From the ambiguous and improper manner in which this is expressed in the common English translation, it has been supposed that our blessed Lord commended the conduct of this wicked man: but the word κυριος, there translated lord, simply means the master of the unjust steward.

The children of this world - Such as mind worldly things only, without regarding God or their souls. A phrase by which the Jews always designate the Gentiles.

Children of light - Such as are illuminated by the Spirit of God, and regard worldly things only as far as they may subserve the great purposes of their salvation, and become the instruments of good to others. But ordinarily the former evidence more carefulness and prudence, in providing for the support and comfort of this life, than the latter do in providing for another world.

unjust.

Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Luke 18:6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge said.

done.

Luke 16:4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, Yes, has God said...

Exodus 1:10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falls out any war...

2 Samuel 13:3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtle man.

2 Kings 10:19 Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting...

Proverbs 6:6-8 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise...

children of this.

Luke 20:34 And Jesus answering said to them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

Psalm 17:14 From men which are your hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life...

1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

Philippians 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

in.

Psalm 49:10-19 For he sees that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others...

Matthew 17:26 Peter said to him, Of strangers. Jesus said to him, Then are the children free.

children of light.

John 12:36 While you have light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed...

Ephesians 5:8 For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

1 Thessalonians 5:5 You are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people...

1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whoever does not righteousness is not of God...

February 7. "Faithful in that which is Least" (Luke xvi. 10).
"Faithful in that which is least" (Luke xvi. 10). The man that missed his opportunity and met the doom of the faithless servant was not the man with five talents, or the man with two, but the man who had only one. The people who are in danger of missing life's great meaning are the people of ordinary capacity and opportunity, and who say to themselves, "There is so little I can do that I will not try to do anything." One of the finest windows in Europe was made from the remnants an apprentice boy …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Good Steward
"Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward." Luke 16:2. 1. The relation which man bears to God, the creature to his Creator, is exhibited to us in the oracles of God under various representations. Considered as a sinner, a fallen creature, he is there represented as a debtor to his Creator. He is also frequently represented as a servant, which indeed is essential to him as a creature; insomuch that this appellation is given to the Son of God when, in His state of humiliation, …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Rich Man and Lazarus
"If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." Luke 16:31. 1. How strange a paradox is this! How contrary to the common apprehension of men! Who is so confirmed in unbelief as not to think, "If one came to me from the dead, I should be effectually persuaded to repent?" But this passage affords us a more strange saying: (Luke 16:13:) "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." "No! Why not? Why cannot we serve both?" will a true servant of mammon say. …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions