Luke 16:15 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus answers that the Pharisees justify themselves before men, but God knows their hearts; what people exalt can be abomination before God.
What Does Luke 16:15 Mean?
Jesus meets the sneer head-on. The Pharisees have won their verdict in the court of human opinion — respected, esteemed, self-justified. But there is a higher court in permanent session: God knows their hearts, the God who looks on the heart while man looks on the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7).
Then the sentence that levels every age: what is highly esteemed among men can be abomination in the sight of God. Wealth worn as righteousness, image polished into a substitute for holiness, applause mistaken for acquittal — heaven weighs them and turns away. Yet mercy hides inside the severity. Since God already knows the heart, pretense is useless; and the honest sinner who stops justifying himself is precisely the one who goes home justified (Luke 18:14).
Luke 16:15 in the Original Language
bdelygma (βδέλυγμα), 'abomination' -- something detestable, an object of deep revulsion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 16:15
What does Luke 16:15 mean?
Jesus answers that the Pharisees justify themselves before men, but God knows their hearts; what people exalt can be abomination before God.