The Gospel of Luke: God Knows Your Heart

Sermon Notes: Luke 16:14-18 "The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, 'You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. 'The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void. Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.'" Sermon Notes: 3/22/26 God never confronts without the intent to comfort. At first glance, this passage can feel like Jesus is just offering a handful of sayings without much cohesion, but there is a thread running thoughout. He’s exposing the unrighteousness of those who bend the Word of God to their own desires. These are a unified rebuke to the Pharisees. But this text is not just about them… it can be about us. This rebuke is to people who look the part, but their hearts cling to unrighteousness. Jesus isn’t just addressing pagans: he’s addressing those who consider themselves righteous. The text doesn’t allow us to hide. It exposes us, and allows us to openly run to Jesus as the comforter. There’s nothing wrong with having stuff.... but God weighs the heart. The righteousness of man collides with the kingdom of God. The things that are exalted before men are an abomination before God. The text, with its rebuke of the Pharisees as "lovers of money," offers a moment for us to take inventory of how we are living in our private lives. We must remember we are justified only by our reliance on Christ. And our standing before God isn’t related to our own strength, or ability, or possessions, but just Christ alone. Remember the Pharisees thought Jesus wasn’t the one that was prophesied by the law. Jesus isn’t anti-law; he is the obedient son the law required. God’s law remains the same. But that law was not just for the Pharisees, it was for us too. We often want holiness without change in who we are. The word of God stands forever. The last verse about marriage seems random and abrupt. In that day, many treated divorce with scandalous indifference. The Pharisees wanted a religious appearance without the focus required. They wanted a loophole to God's law. How close can I get to sin without calling it sin? If we have to ask these questions, we have already sinned. Kingdom righteousness says “Lord, search me.” This verse was not meant to be used as a way to harm the people of God. This verse is to confront those who treat God’s laws lightly, or those who would reshape God’s word to protect our idols. We’re doing the same thing for which God confronts the hard-hearted Pharisees. God does not let the covenant breakers hide behind technicalities. And that’s why this text is mercy - as it is better to be exposed and offer our hearts to God, than to be exposed later, never having offered Him what He’s owed.

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The Gospel of Luke: God Knows Your Heart is an episode from City Light Church Sermons by Brian Crawford.

This episode is 33:38 long.

This episode was published on Mar 22, 2026.

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