Luke 16:15

16:15 But ¹  Jesus ²  said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in men’s eyes, ³  but God knows your hearts. For what is highly prized ⁴  among men is utterly detestable ⁵  in God’s sight.

Luke 20:20

Paying Taxes to Caesar

20:20 Then ⁶  they watched him carefully and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. ⁷  They wanted to take advantage of what he might say ⁸  so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction ⁹  of the governor.

[16:15]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[16:15]  ² tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[16:15]  ³ tn Grk “before men.” The contrast is between outward appearance (“in people’s eyes”) and inward reality (“God knows your hearts”). Here the Greek term ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used twice in a generic sense, referring to both men and women, but “men” has been retained in the text to provide a strong verbal contrast with “God” in the second half of the verse.

[16:15]  ⁴ tn Or “exalted.” This refers to the pride that often comes with money and position.

[16:15]  ⁵ tn Or “is an abomination,” “is abhorrent” (L&N 25.187).

[20:20]  ⁶ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[20:20]  ⁷ tn Grk “righteous,” but in this context the point is their false sincerity.

[20:20]  ⁸ tn Grk “so that they might catch him in some word.”

[20:20]  ⁹ tn This word is often translated “authority” in other contexts, but here, in combination with ἀρχή (arch), it refers to the domain or sphere of the governor’s rule (L&N 37.36).