Luke 16:15 - Forerunner Commentary

Luke 16:15

13 ^a“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

The Law, the Prophets, and the Kingdom

14 Now the Pharisees, ^awho were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they¹ derided Him.

15 And He said to them, “You are those who ^ajustify yourselves ^bbefore men, but ^cGod knows your hearts. For ^dwhat is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

16 ^a“The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.

17 ^aAnd it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one¹ tittle of the law to fail.

18 ^a“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.

The Rich Man and Lazarus

19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and¹ fared sumptuously every day.

Verse Comparison: Luke 16:15

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American Standard Version
And he said unto them, Ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Amplified® Bible
But He said to them, You are the ones who declare yourselves just {and} upright before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted {and} highly thought of among men is detestable {and} abhorrent (an abomination) in the sight of God. [I Sam. 16:7; Prov. 21:2.]

Contemporary English Version
But Jesus told them: You are always making yourselves look good, but God sees what is in your heart. The things that most people think are important are worthless as far as God is concerned.

Darby English Version
And he said to them, *Ye* are they who justify themselves before men, but God knows your hearts; for what amongst men is highly thought of is an abomination before God.

Good News Bible
Jesus said to them, "You are the ones who make yourselves look right in other people's sight, but God knows your hearts. For the things that are considered of great value by people are worth nothing in God's sight.

International Standard Version
So he said to them, "You try to justify yourselves in front of people, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly valued by people is detestable to God.

King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.

New International Version
He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.

New King James Version
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.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
And He said to them, "You justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which men highly esteem God detests.

Young's Literal Translation
and he said to them, `Ye are those declaring yourselves righteous before men, but God doth know your hearts; because that which among men is high, `is' abomination before God;

New English Translation
But¹ Jesus² said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in men’s eyes,³ but God knows your hearts. For what is highly prized⁴ among men is utterly detestable⁵ in God’s sight.

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