John Calvin Commentary Luke 16:14

"And the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things; and they scoffed at him." — Luke 16:14 (ASV)

And the Pharisees, who were covetous, heard all these things. Those who imagine that Christ was ridiculed by the Pharisees because he chose to employ a plain and familiar style, and made no use of swelling words,³⁰² do not sufficiently comprehend what Luke means.

Haughty and disdainful men, I acknowledge, view the doctrine of the Gospel with contempt; but Luke expressly declares that the reason Christ was the object of their derision was that they were covetous.

Holding a firm and deep-seated conviction that the rich are happy, and that there is nothing better for people than to increase their wealth by every possible method and earnestly to guard what they have acquired, they reject as foolish paradoxes³⁰³ all the sayings of Christ that had a contrary tendency.

And certainly, anyone who speaks of despising riches or bestowing alms on the poor is regarded by the covetous as a madman.

Horace’s words on this subject are well known:³⁰⁴ “The people hiss at me, but I am well satisfied with myself.”³⁰⁵ But if, even when they are condemned by universal opinion, they continue to flatter themselves, how much more will they ridicule as a fable that philosophy of Christ which is far removed from ordinary belief?

Some other pretense, I have no doubt, was put forward by the Pharisees for ridiculing and evading a doctrine that opposed their vice.

But we must consider the motive that motivated them. For it is a sickness that almost always prevails in the world, that most people affect to despise whatever does not agree with their corrupt morals. This is why the word of God is frequently assailed with ridicule, jest, and merriment; for everyone fights in defense of their own vices, and all imagine that their witticisms will serve as a cloud to screen their criminality.

³⁰² “En affectant des termes exquis, et bien remplissans la bouehe;”— “by affecting nicely chosen words, and that fill the mouth well.”;”— “by affecting nicely chosen words, and that fill the mouth well.”

³⁰³ “Comme choses absurdes, et contre l’opinion commune;” — “as absurd statements, and opposed to the common belief.”;” — “as absurd statements, and opposed to the common belief.”

³⁰⁴ “Horace, Poete Latin, dit parlant en la personne d’un avaricieux;” — “Horace, a Latin Poet, says, speaking in the person of a covetous man.”;” — “Horace, a Latin Poet, says, speaking in the person of a covetous man.”

³⁰⁵ “Populus me sibilat, at mihi plaudo.”— .”— Sat. 1. 1:66.. 1. 1:66.