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.

LUKE 16:15KJV
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Luke 16:15 (KJV)

What does Luke 16:15 mean?

Luke 16:15 describes Jesus telling the Pharisees that while they try to make themselves look righteous in front of other people, God sees their true motives and hearts. What people admire or value highly can actually be detestable to God if it is rooted in pride or hypocrisy.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking directly to the Pharisees, a religious group known for strict observance of the law and for seeking public approval. The verse highlights the difference between outward appearances and inward reality, stressing that God’s judgment is based on what is truly in a person’s heart, not just on what others see or praise.

The Greek behind Luke 16:15

  • "δικαιόω" (dikaioō, "justify"): This word means to declare or show oneself as righteous. Here, it points to the Pharisees’ effort to appear morally upright before others, not necessarily to be truly righteous before God.
  • "καρδία" (kardia, "hearts"): In Greek, this word refers to the center of a person’s inner life, including thoughts, motives, and desires. Jesus emphasizes that God knows what is really inside a person, beyond outward actions.
  • "βδέλυγμα" (bdelygma, "abomination"): This strong word means something detestable or disgusting. Jesus uses it to show that what people may praise or value can be utterly offensive to God if it is rooted in wrong motives.

Why Luke 16:15 matters

  • Luke 16:15 clears up the common misunderstanding that public approval or religious appearance equals true righteousness; Jesus points out that God’s standard is much deeper.
  • The verse emphasizes that God’s perspective is different from human perspective, especially regarding what is truly valuable or admirable.
  • This statement connects to the wider passage, where Jesus challenges the Pharisees’ love of money and their tendency to seek honor from others rather than from God.

Where else these words appear

“abomination” Greek G946 · used in 6 verses

  • Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place,(whoso readeth, let him understand:)
  • Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not,(let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
  • Revelation 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

“esteemed” Greek G5308 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
  • Luke 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
  • Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

“justify” Greek G1344 · used in 36 verses

  • Matthew 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
  • Romans 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
  • Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

“are” Greek G2075 · used in 88 verses

  • Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
  • John 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
  • 1 Corinthians 9:2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.