The Pharisees’ Disdain for the Law and the Prophets and the Demands of the New Kingdom (Luke 16:14-18)

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. 15 And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.

16 “The law and the prophets lasted until John; but from then on the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone who enters does so with violence. 17 It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for the smallest part of a letter of the law to become invalid.

18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

The preceding verses in Luke 16 (1-13) contain the Parable of the Unjust Steward which illustrates the importance of shrewdly managing wealth and highlights the impossibility of serving both God and money.  In response, the Pharisees, described as lovers of money, react negatively to Jesus’ teaching.  They prided themselves on their adherence to the Law and their public image of holiness, yet they were preoccupied with wealth and social status rather than genuine righteousness.  Jesus' critique reveals that while they might deceive others by appearing righteous, their true intentions of the heart are not hidden from God.  He emphasized that values and actions esteemed by humans but not aligned with God’s will are detestable to Him.  

John the Baptist is presented as the last of the Old Testament prophets marking a significant transition in salvation history. His role was to prepare the way for Jesus and herald the advent of the Kingdom of God.  The “Law” refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Bible traditionally attributed to Moses, and the “prophets” include the writings and teachings of those who spoke on behalf of God.  With the coming of Jesus, the Kingdom of God represents a new era of divine salvation and fulfillment of Old Testament promises.  This new era demands an earnest and sometimes difficult effort to enter the Kingdom.  

Jesus affirms the authority and permanence of the Law, stating that not even the smallest detail of the Hebrew Scriptures will be altered.  This underscores that His mission is not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it, bringing its deeper meaning to light and completing its purpose. 

In addressing divorce and remarriage, Jesus sets a high moral and ethical standard.  He asserted that divorcing and remarrying is equivalent to committing adultery, challenging the lax attitudes towards divorce prevalent in His time.   In contrast to the more permissive interpretation of the School of Hillel, which allowed divorce for minor grievances or trivial reasons, Jesus' teaching upholds the indissolubility of marriage as intended from the beginning.

Almighty God, help us to see beyond outward appearances and to seek true righteousness in our hearts. Guide us to embrace the full meaning of Your Commandments and to live according to the demands of Your Kingdom. Grant us the wisdom to prioritize Your will over worldly values and to follow Your teachings with sincerity.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

                                                        

References

• McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
• Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
• Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
• Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
• Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
• Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
• Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
• McKenzie, John. Dictionary of the Bible. Collier Books, 1965.