Jesus Rebuked the Greedy Pharisees

Study of Luke 16:14-18

Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him. 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. 

“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail. 

“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.

— Luke 16:14-18

The Pharisees were obviously offended by Jesus' statement that you cannot serve both money and God. They are the teachers of God's Law, they were serving God, but they also love money. It's like they are saying, 'What do you mean you can't serve both God and money? It can be done, look at us! We're living evidence that you can serve both!' They think godliness is a means of gain (1 Tim. 6:5). In fact, they justify material prosperity as a sign of God's approval.

A multitude of modern day "professional" spiritual leaders would agree with them. How many prosperity preachers, televangelists, megachurch pastors, self-proclaimed religious experts, and other kinds of teachers in the spirituality and religion genre are living in affluence? Religion can be good business if your goal is to encash on it.

Jesus proclaimed a stinging rebuke on them "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men".They are those who trusted in themselves that they are righteous and viewed others with contempt (Luke 18:9). They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men (Matt. 6:5). They honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far away (Matt. 15:8). They do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments (Matt. 23:5).They outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness (Matt. 23:28).  

They may be successful in gaining the respect, approval, admiration, and patronage of men but Jesus said "God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God." Eloquence, intellect, rhetoric, honor, prestige, beauty, riches, achievements, false humility, educational degrees, impressive associations, family background, status quo are some of the things that the world esteem highly. 

But the One opinion we all should care about, God, is not impressed with those things that humans are usually proud of. What God wants is a humble, repentant, and pure heart (Matt. 5:8) that loves Him wholly (Luke 10:27) and those who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance (Luke 8:15). These are the ones who are entering God's kingdom.

"The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it."

The Old Testament dispensation is finished and the Old Testament Scripture, from Genesis to Malachi, is complete. Through Moses and the prophets God gave the Law, covenants, and promises. The New Testament era has begun as the forerunner, John the Baptist, announced the good news of the coming of the promised  Messiah and His kingdom. The King Messiah is here and many repentant sinners are entering. The imagery Jesus used to describe  their zealous determination is as if they are violently storming their way to enter. It shows how desperately they want God's kingdom. And they enter through humbling themselves in repentance and putting their faith in the Messiah, which are the spiritual requirements necessary for those who would enter.

Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

— Matthew 3:1-2

From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

— Matthew 4:17

Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

— Mark 1:14-15

“Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.

— Matthew 21:31-32

The Pharisees still won't move a step closer to enter because they thought they are already in it by virtue of their ethnicity and perfect obedience to the Law. But Jesus said that even though a new age has begun by His coming, "it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail." He's not just pertaining to the Mosaic Law contained in the Mosaic Covenant which will be abrogated when He ratifies the New Covenant by His death on the cross. 

When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.

— Hebrews 8:13

Jesus was talking about the universal moral law which, although was also expressed in the ten commandments, transcends the Mosaic law. Then He singled out a specific one, the law of marriage which was given a long time before Moses. Jesus said “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery."

The Pharisees relaxed the laws on divorce and remarriage. Not only were they committing adultery, they are also leading others to commit this grave sin. They thought they were blameless, but they have violated God's law and need to repent.

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

— James 2:10

The money-loving and outwardly righteous like the Pharisees need to discard their love for money and hypocrisy that's blocking their entrance to God's kingdom. May we be among those who are spiritually qualified to enter the glorious kingdom of God.

For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

— Ephesians 5:5

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

— Matthew 5:3

Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

— James 2:5