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Scripture · New Testament

Luke 16:15

Luke 16:15 is verse 15 of Luke chapter 16, shown here in the Berean Standard Bible.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

BSB source and public domain terms

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.

World English Bible

He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Read in context

Luke 16:13–17 · Berean Standard Bible

13 No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus.

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.

16 The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.

Read all of Luke 16

Greek words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Luke 10:29

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Luke 11:39

“Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

Luke 18:11

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

Luke 18:21

“All these I have kept from my youth,” he said.

Luke 20:20

So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.

Luke 20:47

They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”

Proverbs 20:6

Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?

Matthew 6:2

So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

Matthew 6:5

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

Matthew 6:16

When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

Matthew 23:5

All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

Matthew 23:25

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Matthew 23:26

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.

Matthew 23:27

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity.

Romans 3:20

Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.

James 2:21

Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

James 2:22

You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.

James 2:23

And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

James 2:24

As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.

James 2:25

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?

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.”

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.

2 Chronicles 6:30

be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of men—

Psalms 7:9

Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.

Psalms 139:1

O LORD, You have searched me and known me.

Psalms 139:2

You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.

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.

John 2:25

He did not need any testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man.

John 21:17

Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Acts 1:18

(Now with the reward for his wickedness Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong and burst open in the middle, and all his intestines spilled out.

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 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.

Revelation 2:23

Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

Psalms 10:3

For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.

Psalms 49:13

This is the fate of the self-confident and their followers who endorse their sayings. Selah

Psalms 49:18

Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul— and men praise you when you prosper—

Proverbs 16:5

Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.

Isaiah 1:10

Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

Isaiah 1:11

“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.

Isaiah 1:12

When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you— this trampling of My courts?

Isaiah 1:13

Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me— your New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations. I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly.

Isaiah 1:14

I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them.

Amos 5:21

“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies.

Amos 5:22

Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard.

Malachi 3:15

So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’”

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.

1 Peter 5:5

Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

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