Luke 16 14

Luke 16:14 kjv

And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

Luke 16:14 nkjv

Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.

Luke 16:14 niv

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.

Luke 16:14 esv

The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.

Luke 16:14 nlt

The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at him.

Luke 16 verses

Luke 16 14 Meaning

Luke 16:14 reveals the negative and hypocritical reaction of the Pharisees to Jesus’ preceding teachings on money and stewardship. Their inherent love of wealth, despite their public religious claims, caused them to respond with open contempt and ridicule towards Jesus, as His words exposed their covetous hearts and challenged their value system. This verse serves as a crucial interjection, bridging Jesus' teaching on worldly riches and His subsequent sharp rebuke of their self-righteousness.

Luke 16 14 Context

Luke 16:14 is situated as an interjection in Jesus' discourse to His disciples and a broader audience, which includes the Pharisees. The preceding verses (Lk 16:1-13) present the controversial parable of the dishonest manager, concluding with the strong declaration, "You cannot serve God and mammon" (Lk 16:13). This teaching directly challenged the Jewish cultural belief that material wealth was a sign of divine blessing and personal righteousness. The Pharisees, a highly influential and visible religious group, were known for their outward adherence to the Law, their emphasis on public displays of piety, and their accumulation of wealth, which they often viewed as evidence of God's favor due to their presumed righteousness. This verse thus captures their direct, negative reaction to Jesus’ teachings that overturned their understanding of wealth, God's favor, and true spirituality. It immediately precedes Jesus' further exposition on the incompatibility of self-justification and true piety (Lk 16:15), the enduring nature of the Law, divorce, and the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31), which further emphasizes the spiritual dangers of a love for money and neglect of others.

Luke 16 14 Word analysis

• Now (δέ, de): This particle often functions as a simple conjunction "and" or "but." Here, it marks a transition, introducing the Pharisees' reaction as a consequence or counterpoint to Jesus' preceding teaching. It signals a shift in focus to the audience's response.

• the Pharisees (οἱ Φαρισαῖοι, hoi Pharisaios): A prominent Jewish religious and political party in the Second Temple period. They were strict interpreters of the Mosaic Law and oral traditions, widely respected by the people for their piety. However, Jesus frequently exposed their hypocrisy, pride, and legalism, particularly their love of outward show over inward transformation.

• who were covetous (φιλάργυροι ὑπάρχοντες, philargyroi huparchontes):

  • covetous (φιλάργυροι, philargyroi): A compound word from philos (lover) and argyros (silver/money). It directly means "lovers of money." This is not just a passing temptation but an intrinsic characteristic, describing their core disposition. It reveals the root of their spiritual problem and explains their subsequent reaction to Jesus.
  • who were (huparchontes): The participle "being" or "existing." It emphasizes that their covetousness was not incidental but a fundamental aspect of their nature or state of being. It's an ingrained quality.

• heard all these things (ἤκουον ταῦτα πάντα, ēkouon tauta panta): Refers to Jesus' extensive discourse on wealth, especially the parable of the dishonest manager and the statement about serving God or mammon. "All these things" signifies a comprehensive understanding of the challenging nature of Jesus' words.

• and they scoffed at Him (ἐξεμυκτήριζον αὐτόν, exemuktērizon auton):

  • scoffed at (ἐξεμυκτήριζον, exemuktēkterizon): A very strong and graphic Greek verb, implying contemptuous mockery. It literally means "to turn up the nose at," "to snort contemptuously," "to ridicule." It describes a visceral, open expression of scorn and disdain. It's a derisive gesture and vocal expression indicating profound disrespect and rejection, suggesting they found His teachings utterly foolish and beneath them, likely because it challenged their most cherished and ingrained value system centered on material possessions. This reaction indicates their complete spiritual disconnect from the truths Jesus proclaimed.
  • Him (αὐτόν, auton): Directly indicates that their scorn was directed personally at Jesus, the messenger, for the uncomfortable truth He delivered.

• Words-group Analysis: "the Pharisees, who were covetous": This phrase highlights the profound irony and hypocrisy. As religious leaders, they outwardly presented themselves as righteous and devoted to God, yet their inward reality was a consuming love for money. Their true character (covetousness) is revealed, directly contrasting with their proclaimed piety. This inward corruption prevented them from accepting Jesus’ teachings, which challenged their foundational values.

• Words-group Analysis: "heard all these things and they scoffed at Him": This connection illustrates a direct cause-and-effect. They did not misunderstand Jesus’ words; they understood them clearly enough to feel directly attacked and threatened. Their scoffing was a defensive reaction, an expression of their absolute rejection of a message that exposed their sin and called for a radical reorientation of their priorities. It signifies a hardened heart unwilling to repent or align with God's Kingdom values.

Luke 16 14 Bonus section

The "love of money" (φιλαργυρία, philargyria - the noun form of philargyroi) mentioned here is more than mere liking or desiring wealth; it signifies a passionate devotion to it, a prioritization of financial gain and security above all else, including God and His commands. For the Pharisees, wealth often empowered their social and religious standing, enabling them to exert influence and maintain a prestigious lifestyle. Their scoffing reaction, therefore, wasn't just intellectual disagreement but a spiritual defiance born out of a perceived threat to their identity, status, and false sense of security derived from their riches. This interaction foreshadows their ultimate rejection of Jesus, as His message consistently exposed the hypocrisy and internal corruption of those who outwardly adhered to religious forms but inwardly worshipped idols.

Luke 16 14 Commentary

Luke 16:14 functions as a critical narrative bridge in Jesus' discourse, directly following His declaration that "You cannot serve God and mammon" (Lk 16:13). The Pharisees' immediate response of scoffing reveals the profound chasm between their self-proclaimed righteousness and their deeply entrenched covetousness. They perceived wealth as a sign of God's blessing, validating their religious status. Jesus’ teaching, however, asserted that earthly riches, when clung to and prioritized over God, become an idol, mammon. Their scoffing was not born of misunderstanding but from the offense that their very way of life and source of perceived divine favor was being called into question and condemned as antithetical to God. This strong, visceral reaction of contempt exposes the spiritual blindness caused by their love for money. It demonstrates how external religious observance can mask internal idolatry and prevent individuals from embracing genuine Kingdom values of self-denial, humility, and sacrificial giving. Their public ridicule aimed to discredit Jesus and dismiss His unsettling truth, rather than to engage with the conviction His words brought.