Luke 16:15

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus speaks to the Pharisees, who have just scoffed at him (v. 14). The moment is a direct rebuke of their self-righteousness.

The words — δικαιοῦντες (dikaiountes), "justifying," is the active present participle: they are not merely appearing righteous but actively declaring themselves in the right before men.

The thread — The same contrast runs through 1 Samuel 16:7 and Proverbs 21:2, where the LORD sees and weighs the heart while human assessment fails; 1 Corinthians 4:5 adds that the Lord will expose what is hidden.

Why it lands — The verse does not ask whether the Pharisees were wrong, but whether the reader's self-justification is a performance for an audience that cannot see the heart.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”
Proverbs 21:2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
Jeremiah 17:10 I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
Proverbs 16:5 Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.
Acts 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.
1 Peter 3:4 but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
Luke 11:39 Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
1 Chronicles 29:17 I know, my God, that You test the heart and delight in uprightness. All these things I have given willingly and with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You.
Luke 10:29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”