14Now the Pharisees — who were money-loving — were hearing all these things, and they sneered contemptuously at him. [16:15] And he said to them, "You are the ones justifying yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts; for what is exalted among men is an abomination before God. [16:16] The Law and the Prophets were until John; from then on the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone presses into it with violent force. [16:17] But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a letter of the Law to fail. [16:18] Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from a husband commits adultery."
LUK 16:14-18
The Law and the Prophets
In the world it was spoken into
In this passage, Jesus addresses Pharisees who are described as —lovers of money. In the 1st-century Jewish context, Pharisees were seen as religious leaders who upheld the Torah and oral traditions, but their association with wealth could imply complicity with Roman economic systems or exploitation of the poor. Jesus critiques their outward piety, noting that while they justify themselves before men, God knows their hearts. He contrasts their behavior with the kingdom of God, which is forcefully advancing , suggesting a dynamic, transformative movement. The Pharisees’ ridicule reflects their contempt for Jesus’ challenge to their authority and their alignment with societal norms. Jesus declares that what is exalted among men is an abomination to God, invoking language often used for idolatry or impurity. He affirms the enduring validity of the Law, stating that not even the smallest stroke of a pen will fail, while also signaling a shift with the arrival of John the Baptist and the proclamation of God’s kingdom.
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How other translations render this
LUK 16:14
- KJV
- And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
- BSB
- The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus.
- Koinōnos
- Now the Pharisees — who were money-loving — were hearing all these things, and they sneered contemptuously at him.
LUK 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.
- BSB
- So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.
- Koinōnos
- And he said to them, "You are the ones justifying yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts; for what is exalted among men is an abomination before God.
LUK 16:16
- KJV
- The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
- BSB
- The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
- Koinōnos
- The Law and the Prophets were until John; from then on the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone presses into it with violent force.
LUK 16:17
- KJV
- And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
- BSB
- But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.
- Koinōnos
- But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a letter of the Law to fail.
LUK 16:18
- KJV
- Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
- BSB
- Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
- Koinōnos
- Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from a husband commits adultery.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 16:14
- Pharisees:The word translated 'Pharisees' here is actually an adjective describing them as 'money-loving' or 'avaricious,' highlighting a specific character trait rather than their group affiliation.
- and:The term used here for their reaction means to turn up one's nose or sneer in derision, indicating a strong, contemptuous mockery rather than a simple conjunction.
LUK 16:15
- an abomination:The word translated 'an abomination' carried a strong sense of something detestable or ritually unclean, often associated with idolatry or practices offensive to God.
LUK 16:16
- forces his way.:The word translated 'forces his way' implies a vigorous, even violent, effort to enter or obtain something, suggesting a forceful striving rather than a gentle invitation.