14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. 15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. 16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail. 18 “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.
In verses 14-18, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their duplicity and love of money.
16:14
Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.
The Pharisees derided Jesus for His money statements earlier in the chapter. They were “lovers of money.” Their love of money led to a greedy mentality.
16:15
And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts.
God was the ultimate judge of the Pharisees’ motives about their love for money. The Lord laid bare their attempt to justify their lust for money. Nevertheless, their primary concern was to justify themselves in the eyes of people. They wanted the appearance of righteousness, which was pure pretension.
For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
The Pharisees’ high esteem for money was an abomination to God. “An abomination” is something detestable; God detested the Pharisees’ approach to ministry. Their facade of piety would deceive people but not God. They wanted the approval of the crowd above God’s approval (Lu 10:29; 11:39-41; 18:9-14). God views people who exalt themselves as detestable.
16:16
“The law and the prophets were until John.
The Bible presents John the Baptist as a transition figure. His role was to announce the Messiah as the fulfillment of Old Testament promises. Jesus’ launch of His ministry through John’s baptism marked the new era of the kingdom promise. John’s message was no longer in the domain of promise but in the arrival of the promises, with a new reality and authority.
The words “law and the prophets” represent the entire Old Testament. The John here refers to John the Baptist. John baptized Jesus to launch His messianic ministry. That event ended the Old Covenant era and ushered in an entirely new one.
Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing [forcing] into it.
The baptism of Jesus by John launched the kingdom of God. The Pharisees tried to force themselves into the kingdom. They did not keep the law as God set it out.
16:17
And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.
The launch of the kingdom does not mean that Old Testament Scripture is irrelevant; it remains binding in every respect.
A “tittle” is part of a letter of the Hebrew alphabet that looks like a small mark. No matter how small a truth from Scripture may be, it will never pass away. Scripture is verbally inspired.
16:18
“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.
Jesus gave an example of the Pharisees’ view of Scripture by calling attention to their view of divorce. They allowed divorce for any reason. Jesus drew attention to their attempt to justify themselves by distorting the meaning of divorce.
Jesus argued that the new era of the kingdom having begun did not mean the principles behind the law were abandoned. Divorce is as wrong in the kingdom as it was during God’s dealings with the nation of Israel.
Divorce here deals with the basic principle, not other qualifications of the issue. The grounds of divorce vary.
PRINCIPLE:
God’s moral principles remain constant over the dispensations.
APPLICATION:
Genuine righteousness remains the same over the epochs of time. The moral aspects of the law never expire; they are eternal in nature. Although the ceremonial law ceased when Jesus came, the moral law remains. Materialism in the New Testament is as wrong as it was in the Old Testament.
