Luke 16:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The prophet Isaiah speaks to the people of Jerusalem, saying, "Thy princes are rebellious, accomplices of thieves: they love bribes, they seek reward; they judge not the fatherless, nor honor the widow." Likewise, the prophet Habakkuk laments, "How long, O Lord, shall I cry to Thee, and Thou wilt not hear? I cry unto Thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save? The judgment is before me, and the judge takes a bribe; therefore the law is powerless, and justice does not prevail; for the wicked surround the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted." Since these individuals were consumed by the love of wealth, they rendered their judgments not according to God's decrees but acted in utter lawlessness, contradicting His will.

Moreover, the Lord Himself admonished them, saying, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint, anise, and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith." Even though the law permitted them to claim a tithe from all, they went to the extent of counting the smallest herbs, neglecting the more significant commandments that served the welfare of the community. These Pharisees, identified as lovers of wealth, derided Jesus for guiding them towards righteous conduct and inspiring within them a longing for divine glory. He instructed them to sell their possessions and give to the less fortunate, promising them treasures in heaven that are immune to decay, wallets that cannot wear out, and wealth that will never be relinquished. What then prompted their ridicule? His teachings held value, offering hope for the future and a path to everlasting life; He instructed them on the true nature of prosperity and how to attain the crown of their heavenly calling, leading them to share in the inheritance of the saints and become children of the celestial city, the true free Jerusalem. As the blessed Apostle Paul remarks, "Jerusalem, which is above, is free, which is the mother of us all."

So, what was the reason for their derision? We must examine the root of their depravity. Greed had seized their hearts, and their minds, ensnared by its influence, succumbed against their better judgment; they humbled themselves under the tyranny of wickedness, tightly bound in a web of their own making. The author of Proverbs wisely states that "the wicked are held captive by their own sins." Just as severe physical ailments often reject healing remedies and become worse in response to treatment, so too can the soul become obstinate, closing itself off from admonition and refusing to heed any call to forsake evil. Furthermore, like headstrong and vigorous horses that resist direction, a mind consumed by passion becomes defiant, rebuffing opportunities for healing with animosity.

Just as one who divorces his wife and marries another (without just cause) transgresses the law, not only in its current manifestation but also within himself, so too does one who abandons their relationship with God and elevates themselves or their own righteousness to a divine status. And just as one who marries a divorced woman commits a sin, so do you stand condemned before God when you strive to maintain your connection with the old covenant, the legal structures that you have transformed into a means for personal gain.

Historically, the Jews had been marked by a penchant for greed, and following their exile to Babylon, they became scattered across various nations upon their return from captivity, with only 42,000 choosing to return to the Promised Land. This dispersion rendered them strangers in many lands, often unwelcome. Aware of their estrangement, they grew even more enamored with silver and gold, believing their strength lay solely in monetary gain. They recalled Moses's prophecy: ‘The Lord your God will set you above all the nations of the earth.... and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow (Deuteronomy 28:1, 12).’ Consequently, they invested all their efforts into amassing wealth, passing these traits on to their descendants, who still honor their forebears’ traditions. It's evident that the money-loving scribes and Pharisees found Jesus' call to return money gained through unjust means to be absurd. Is it not ludicrous to suggest returning ill-gotten wealth when the perceived power and happiness of these ostensibly righteous individuals hinge upon it? Such a notion seemed utterly absurd to them, prompting their laughter.

‘For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ To ensure that the heart is inclined toward heavenly matters, it is essential to possess an inner illumination within the soul, allowing the mind to grasp the truth in its entirety. A darkened mind can lead the heart away from God and the truth. The mind serves as the soul's light, much like the eye does for the body. Thus, as ‘if your eye is clean, your whole body will be bright, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be dark,’ so too with the soul; a bright mind brings a bright soul, while a darkened mind results in a darkened soul, causing it to pursue earthly rather than heavenly matters (Matthew 6:20-23). Some of the more straightforward scribes recognized the truth in this teaching, and there were instances of others who genuinely embodied it in their lives. Among the fervent proponents of Judaism, there were those who ascended to the depths of these truths. Regarding a wealthy convert to Judaism, Monobaz, a companion of the Adiaben prince Isat, the Talmud recounts that when his brothers criticized him for squandering the wealth amassed by their ancestors, he responded by saying, "My fathers collected treasures here on earth, but I collect there in heaven; my fathers had treasures where the hands of men can encroach upon them, but I have them where no hand can reach them; my fathers collected treasures for this world, but I collect for the world to come." However, the majority, despite recognizing the sinfulness of their complete attachment to worldly possessions, could not overcome their greed and believed it feasible to seek both earthly and heavenly treasures simultaneously. Christ boldly called out this hypocrisy and divided loyalty, stating, ‘No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be zealous for the one and neglect the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon’ (Matthew 6:24).

The Pharisees also heard this parable, and as they were exceedingly fond of wealth, they found the Savior’s teachings particularly amusing, especially His concluding words about serving two masters—God and Mammon. They believed they served both and considered themselves so righteous that the most esteemed places in the kingdom of heaven had long been reserved for them. To reveal their tragic misconception, the Savior shared the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31).