The Covetous Pharisees Heard These Things - Luke 16:14

The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus said, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon”, and in chapter sixteen and verse fourteen of his book Luke wrote how, “the Pharisees, also, who were covetous, heard all these things” where we read:

And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

The verse reads, “And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things:” Luke began with the words, “and the Pharisees also” or “and the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life even so and indeed”, “who were covetous” which means “that were fond of silver, avaricious and loving money”, “heard all these things” or “were given the faculty for hearing, perceiving and understanding all of Jesus' words about not being able to serve God and mammon”. Luke shared how the “religious people” known as “Pharisees” who “loved money” also “heard” Jesus' words concerning “serving God” and “serving mammon”.

The verse goes on to say, “and they derided him.” Luke continued with the words, “and they” or “and the Pharisees” “derided him” which means “turned up their noses at, sneered at and scoffed toward Jesus”. Luke shared how the “religious leaders” “sneered” and “turned up their noses” at Jesus' words.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “religious leaders” known as “Pharisees” were listening to Jesus. These “leaders” “loved money”, and when they heard Jesus say “you cannot serve God and mammon”, they began to “scoff” at Him. Regardless of their “scoffing”, Jesus' principle concerning the principle is certain and true. God desires to be the passion and drive of every person, and when they yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they are to allow nothing else to be the priority in their lives. Religious leaders and others may “scoff and sneer” at Jesus' words, but He knows best the conditions by which people must live.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus told the Pharisees, “you are they which justify yourselves before men” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".