⁸ And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly, for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.^(A)

⁵ for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.

⁸ for once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light,^(A)

³⁶ While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”

The Unbelief of the People

After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.^(A)

³⁴ Jesus said to them, “Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage,

⁴ I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.’

¹⁰ The children of God and the children of the devil are revealed in this way: all who do not do what is right are not from God, nor are those who do not love a brother or sister.^(A)

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people,^[a] in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.^(A)

¹⁹ Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.^(A)