Luke 16:15
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus isn't just calling out hypocrisy; he's highlighting the dangerous chasm between human approval and God's knowledge. What seems honorable and respectable to people—like the Pharisees' outward piety—can be utterly offensive to God when He sees the impure motives and pride hidden within the heart.
Jesus has just told the parable of the shrewd manager, highlighting how worldly people often act more wisely for their own gain than spiritual people do for eternity. The Pharisees, who were listening and known for their greed, mock him for his teachings. In response, Jesus directly addresses them, pointing out their hypocrisy: they present themselves as righteous to others, but God sees their true, covetous hearts, making their outward show an abomination to Him.
We all try to look good in front of others. But what happens when God sees something different behind the curtain?
Jesus is directly confronting the Pharisees here, calling out their public image versus their private reality. He says, 'You are those who justify yourselves before men.' This means they put on a show of righteousness for everyone to see. They followed the rules, perhaps even more strictly than others, and wanted everyone to know it.
But Jesus cuts through all of that with a powerful truth: 'God knows your hearts.' Our inner thoughts, motivations, and true desires are laid bare before God, no matter how well we hide them from people. While human eyes can only see outward actions, God’s gaze pierces through to the core of who we are. This is a constant reminder that our ultimate accountability is to Him, not to the applause or opinions of others.
What makes us feel proud could be the very thing that repulses God. How can this be?
The second part of this verse packs a punch: 'For that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.' Jesus is pointing out a stark contrast between human values and God's values. Things that earn us praise, respect, and admiration from people—like status, wealth, or a flawless public reputation—can be utterly detestable to God if they stem from the wrong motives.
Think about the Pharisees Jesus was speaking to. They were highly respected in society for their religious observance. Yet, Jesus calls their pride and self-justification 'an abomination.' This isn't to say that all things valued by humans are bad, but rather that when our pursuit of human approval overshadows our pursuit of God, or when our 'righteousness' is a mask for inner pride and sin, it is deeply offensive to Him. God detests hypocrisy and pride, especially when they masquerade as piety.
Understand the original words
kardia · Greek Noun
The internal seat of human personality, encompassing the mind, will, and emotions. God is described as the one who searches and knows the true condition of this center.
hypsēlos · Greek Adjective
That which is highly esteemed, lifted up, or glorified by human standards. It is often contrasted with the humility required by God.
bdelygma · Greek Noun
Something that is detestable, loathsome, or morally repulsive to God. It specifically refers to things that violate God's holy character.
This verse arises from Jesus' direct confrontation with the Pharisees, who were scornful of his teachings on wealth and stewardship. Their pride and self-justification before men, while God saw their hearts, is the immediate backdrop to Jesus' sharp words.
c. 27-30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Teaching
Jesus travels throughout Galilee and Judea, teaching, healing, and preaching about the Kingdom of God. This period sees the delivery of many parables, including the parable of the shrewd manager.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus Teaches on Wealth and Stewardship
During his ministry, Jesus frequently addresses the disciples and crowds about the nature of wealth, the dangers of greed, and the importance of responsible stewardship of resources, often challenging conventional wisdom.
c. 27-30 AD
Pharisees' Opposition to Jesus
The religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees, are often depicted as opposing Jesus' teachings and actions, especially when his messages challenge their interpretations of the Law or their social standing.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Confrontation with Pharisees
Jesus directly confronts the Pharisees, who are often described as lovers of money and self-righteous, in response to their scorn and criticism of his teachings and association with tax collectors and sinners.
This passage directly contrasts the self-righteous Pharisee who 'justifies himself' with the humble tax collector, highlighting how what is exalted in human eyes can be an abomination to God.
1 Samuel 16:7This verse emphasizes God's perspective over man's, stating 'Man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart,' which is a core theme in Luke 16:15.
Psalm 143:2This Psalm directly echoes the sentiment that no one is righteous in God's sight when He is the judge, underscoring the futility of human self-justification before Him.
Proverbs 16:5This proverb states that 'everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD,' aligning perfectly with Jesus' warning that what is highly esteemed among people can be detestable to God.
Matthew 6:24This verse, from Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, deals with the impossibility of serving both God and money ('mammon'), a concept closely tied to the hypocrisy and misplaced values Jesus addresses in Luke 16:15.
calvinLuke 16:1-15: "And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods."
- And he said also to his disciples, There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and he was accused to him that he was wasting his estate. 2. And he called him, and said to him, What is this that I hear of thee? render an account of thy stewardship, for thou shalt no longer have it in thy power to be steward. 3. And the stew…
gillLuke 16:15: "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."
And he said unto them,.... That is, Jesus said unto them, as the Syriac and Persic versions express it: "ye are they which justify yourselves before men": from the sins of injustice, unfaithfulness, covetousness, and all others; and would be thought, and appear to be righteous; but it is only in the sig…
Jesus isn't just calling out hypocrisy; he's highlighting the dangerous chasm between human approval and God's knowledge. What seems honorable and respectable to people—like the Pharisees' outward piety—can be utterly offensive to God when He sees the impure motives and pride hidden within the heart.
Jesus has just told the parable of the shrewd manager, highlighting how worldly people often act more wisely for their own gain than spiritual people do for eternity. The Pharisees, who were listening and known for their greed, mock him for his teachings. In response, Jesus directly addresses them, pointing out their hypocrisy: they present themselves as righteous to others, but God sees their true, covetous hearts, making their outward show an abomination to Him.
Jesus has just told the parable of the shrewd manager, highlighting how worldly people often act more wisely for their own gain than spiritual people do for eternity. The Pharisees, who were listening and known for their greed, mock him for his teachings. In response, Jesus directly addresses them, pointing out their hypocrisy: they present themselves as righteous to others, but God sees their true, covetous hearts, making their outward show an abomination to Him.
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"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." — Jesus isn't just calling out hypocrisy; he's highlighting the dangerous chasm between human approval and God's knowledge. What seems honorable and respectable to people—like the Pharisees' outward pi…
