Luke 16:15

“And he said unto them, etc.] That is, Jesus said unto them, as the Syriac and Persic versions express it: “ye are they which justify yourselves before men”: from the sins of injustice, unfaithfulness, covetousness, and all others; and would be thought, and appear to be righteous; but it is only in the sight of men, who can only see the outside of things, and judge thereby: but God knoweth your hearts; and what is in them, the deceitfulness, hypocrisy, covetousness, and cruelty of them, which are hid from the eyes of men: for that which is highly esteemed among men; or what is high in the account and esteem of men, as the outward appearance of these men for morality, religion, and holiness;…”

“justify yourselves--make a show of righteousness. highly esteemed among men--generally carried away by plausible appearances. (See Sa1 16:7; and Luk 14:11).”

“They derided him - The fact that they were “covetous” is here stated as the reason why they derided him, or, as it is literally, “they turned up the nose at him.” They contemned or despised the doctrine which he had laid down, probably because it showed them that with their love of money they could not be the true friends of God, or that their profession of religion was really false and hollow. They were “attempting” to serve God and mammon, and they, therefore, looked upon his doctrine with contempt and scorn. Justify yourselves - “Attempt” to appear just; or; you aim to appear righteous in the sight of people, and do not regard the heart. That which is highly esteemed - That is, mere…”

“And he said to them, Ye are they who justify yourselves before men - The sense of the whole passage is, that pride, wherewith you justify yourselves, feeds covetousness, derides the Gospel, Luk 16:14, and destroys the law, Luk 16:18. All which is illustrated by a terrible example. Ye justify yourselves before men - Ye think yourselves righteous, and persuade others to think you so. Luke 16:16”

“Ye: Luk 10:29, Luk 11:39, Luk 18:11, Luk 18:21, Luk 20:20, Luk 20:47; Pro 20:6; Mat 6:2, Mat 6:5, Mat 6:16, Mat 23:5, Mat 23:25-27; Rom 3:20; Jam 2:21-25 God: Sa1 16:7; Ch1 29:17; Ch2 6:30; Psa 7:9, Psa 139:1, Psa 139:2; Jer 17:10; Joh 2:25; Joh 21:17; Act 1:18, Act 15:8; Co1 4:5; Rev 2:23 for: Psa 10:3, Psa 49:13, Psa 49:18; Pro 16:5; Isa 1:10-14; Amo 5:21, Amo 5:22; Mal 3:15; Pe1 3:4, Pe1 5:5 Luke 16:16”