Luke 16 15

Luke 16:15 kjv

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Luke 16:15 nkjv

And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Luke 16:15 niv

He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God's sight.

Luke 16:15 esv

And he said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Luke 16:15 nlt

Then he said to them, "You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.

Luke 16 verses

Luke 16 15 Meaning

This verse sharply contrasts human perception and divine judgment. Jesus confronts the Pharisees, who outwardly present themselves as righteous and honorable to others, valuing human approval above all else. However, God, who knows their innermost thoughts, intentions, and motivations (their hearts), finds detestable precisely what they elevate and seek esteem for among people—their pride, self-righteousness, and materialistic values, which are deeply offensive to Him.

Luke 16 15 Context

Luke 16 opens with the Parable of the Dishonest Manager, which bewilders the disciples and draws strong reaction from the Pharisees, described explicitly in verse 14 as "lovers of money." Jesus then proceeds to teach about the impossibility of serving two masters—God and money—and declares that the Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John, and since then the good news of the Kingdom of God is preached. Luke 16:15 immediately follows these challenging statements and directly addresses the Pharisees, who were deriding (mocking or scoffing at) Jesus' teachings, particularly those concerning their wealth and self-justifying practices. Historically and culturally, the Pharisees were a prominent Jewish religious sect known for their strict adherence to the Mosaic Law and oral traditions. They emphasized external piety, public acts of righteousness, and valued human approval and honor, often conflating their material prosperity with divine blessing and their legalistic observance with true righteousness before God.

Luke 16 15 Word analysis

• You (Ὑμεῖς - Hymeis): Plural pronoun, directly referring to the Pharisees mentioned in verse 14 who were scoffing at Jesus. It pinpoints them as the target audience of this severe rebuke, representing all those who live for external validation.
• are those (ἐστε - Este): Second person plural present indicative of "to be." It indicates their established nature or characteristic identity, not a temporary state but who they fundamentally are.
• who justify yourselves (οἱ δικαιοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς - hoi dikaiountes heautous):
  • justify (δικαιοῦντες - dikaiountes): Present active participle, meaning "declaring righteous," "to acquit," or "to prove just." Here, it carries the sense of self-justification, presenting oneself as righteous.
  • yourselves (ἑαυτοὺς - heautous): Reflexive pronoun. Emphasizes that their claim to righteousness originates from within themselves, rather than being granted by God or founded on true moral standing. It denotes their human-centric view of righteousness.
• before men (ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀνθρώπων - enōpion tōn anthrōpōn):
  • before (ἐνώπιον - enōpion): Preposition meaning "in the presence of," "before the face of." It signifies open visibility and public perception.
  • men (ἀνθρώπων - anthrōpōn): Humans in general. This phrase underscores their motivation: to earn commendation, admiration, and honor from their peers and the public, contrasting sharply with seeking approval from God.
• but (ὁ δὲ - Ho de): A strong adversative conjunction, indicating a sharp contrast or opposition. It introduces God's opposing perspective to the Pharisees' human-centric view.
• God (Θεὸς - Theos): The ultimate divine Judge, whose standard of righteousness is absolute and perfect, and who possesses perfect knowledge.
• knows (γινώσκει - ginōskei): Present indicative, "to know," implying a deep, intimate, and discerning understanding. It's not a superficial awareness but a comprehensive grasp of truth, including hidden motives. God's knowledge penetrates beyond the facade.
• your hearts (τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν - tas kardias hymōn):
  • hearts (καρδίας - kardias): In biblical anthropology, the "heart" signifies the innermost core of a person—the seat of thoughts, emotions, will, conscience, motives, and the very spiritual essence.
  • The plural "your" (ὑμῶν - hymōn) directly addresses the collective Pharisees. This is where God's gaze truly rests, piercing through their outward performance to reveal their true spiritual condition.
• for (ὅτι - hoti): Causal conjunction, meaning "because" or "for this reason." It introduces the profound explanation for God's differing judgment.
• what is exalted (τὸ ὑψηλὸν - to hypsēlon):
  • exalted (ὑψηλὸν - hypsēlon): Neuter adjective functioning as a substantive, meaning "high," "lofty," "exalted," or "what is highly esteemed."
  • The definite article "the" (τὸ - to) generalizing "what is highly esteemed."
• among men (ἐν ἀνθρώποις - en anthrōpois): Same concept as "before men," reiterating the human sphere of judgment and value. It refers to the qualities, positions, wealth, or perceived righteousness that people highly regard within their society.
• is an abomination (βδέλυγμα... ἐστιν - bdelugma... estin):
  • abomination (βδέλυγμα - bdelugma): A very strong word, meaning something detestable, abominable, loathsome, or an object of disgust, often used for idols, idolatry, or things ritually impure and utterly offensive to God (e.g., in the Old Testament, idolatrous practices or morally corrupt acts).
  • is (ἐστιν - estin): Indicative of a fixed state of being.
  This term reveals God's utter revulsion. It suggests that what humans cherish as good or prestigious, particularly when it stems from pride and self-righteousness, is not just flawed but utterly repugnant to divine holiness.

Words-group Analysis

• You are those who justify yourselves before men: This phrase defines the Pharisees' core spiritual flaw—their relentless pursuit of external validation and public righteousness, which is merely a self-proclaimed and man-approved status. Their efforts are directed horizontally (towards humans), not vertically (towards God).
• But God knows your hearts: This segment establishes a powerful dichotomy between human perception and divine omniscience. God penetrates the facade; He sees beyond outward performance and piety directly into the core motivations and true spiritual condition, where sin and pride often fester beneath a veneer of religiosity.
• for what is exalted among men is an abomination before God: This climax delivers the shocking divine verdict. It's a severe condemnation of all human systems of value and achievement, especially religious ones, that operate independently of or contrary to God's standards. Anything esteemed by the world that fosters pride, self-sufficiency, or undermines true humility and faith in God is utterly offensive to Him, likening it to spiritual idolatry.

Luke 16 15 Bonus section

This verse contains a direct polemic against the legalistic and hypocritical tendencies prevalent among certain religious leaders of Jesus' day, particularly the Pharisees. By declaring that their highly esteemed self-righteousness and public display of piety are an "abomination," Jesus effectively strips away their spiritual authority and challenges the very foundation of their worldview, which conflated outward observance with genuine spiritual purity and God's favor. It implies that their outward adherence to the Law, devoid of a transformed heart, amounted to spiritual impurity in God's eyes, drawing a parallel to Old Testament prohibitions against idolatry or detestable acts. This highlights that God's kingdom values are inverted compared to the world's values. What society lifts up, God often despises, and vice-versa. True righteousness comes from God, seen in humble dependence and faith, rather than self-generated or man-approved actions.

Luke 16 15 Commentary

Luke 16:15 serves as a direct, piercing exposé of spiritual hypocrisy. Jesus unveils the deep chasm between human and divine perspectives on righteousness, values, and worth. The Pharisees, masters of external piety and esteemed in their society, embody the pursuit of human approval and worldly recognition. Jesus asserts that while they may successfully present themselves as righteous to others and take pride in their perceived virtues (like their wealth, which they might have considered a sign of God's favor), God's gaze pierces through the outward performance. He does not judge by appearance or public acclamation but by the heart's true condition and motives. The terrifying revelation is that what humans hold in highest esteem – be it wealth, social status, self-righteousness, or superficial religiosity – is not merely disapproved but is deemed "an abomination" (βδέλυγμα) in God's sight. This powerful term implies something detestable and utterly repugnant, often used for idolatry or things deeply offensive to God's holiness. It warns against a religiosity built on human works and pride rather than on a humble, pure heart devoted to God. This principle transcends the specific context of the Pharisees, applying to any individual or society that prioritizes human praise and worldly values over genuine godliness and a sincere relationship with the Almighty. It challenges us to examine our own hearts and motives, ensuring that our lives are lived for God's glory and not for the applause of men.