SERMON TITLE
“Esteemed by Man, Detested by God”
INTRODUCTION: TWO COURTS OF APPROVAL
Beloved brethren,
There are two courts before which every human life is judged:
The court of public opinion
The court of Almighty God
What passes as honour in one court is often filth in the other.
Jesus did not say,
“Some things”
He said,
“That which is highly esteemed among men…”
Meaning:
celebrated
applauded
admired
envied
aspired to
…can be an abomination to God.
This verse is not aimed at pagans.
It was spoken to religious men — the Pharisees.
CONTEXT: WHY JESUS SAID THIS
Luke 16 is about money, stewardship, and loyalty.
Earlier Jesus said:
“Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Luke 16:13)
The Pharisees:
were covetous
loved status
loved reputation
loved wealth
loved religious applause
So Jesus exposes the hidden disease:
“God knoweth your hearts.”
Men judge appearance
God judges affection
WHAT IS “HIGHLY ESTEEMED BY MEN”?
Below is a biblical, exhaustive list (not merely modern opinion), grounded in Scripture.
1. WEALTH & MATERIAL PROSPERITY
How men esteem it:
“He is blessed”
“She is successful”
“God must be with him”
How God sees it (when loved):
“The love of money is the root of all evil.” (1 Tim 6:10)
“Woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.” (Luke 6:24)
Not money itself —
but trusting in it, boasting in it, pursuing it as identity.
Why it is abomination:
It replaces dependence on God
It feeds pride
It dulls eternal awareness
2. STATUS, POWER & INFLUENCE
Highly esteemed:
Leadership titles
Authority
Being “important”
Being known
Jesus said:
“They love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and greetings in the markets.” (Luke 11:43)
God says:
“God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6)
Power that exalts self rather than serves others stinks before heaven.
3. RELIGIOUS APPEARANCE WITHOUT TRUE DEVOTION
This was the Pharisees’ greatest sin.
Esteemed by men:
Long prayers
Scripture quoting
Religious language
Church visibility
Jesus’ verdict:
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth… but their heart is far from me.” (Matt 15:8)
“Ye are like unto whited sepulchres.” (Matt 23:27)
Outward holiness + inward corruption
= abomination
4. SELF-JUSTIFICATION & MORAL SUPERIORITY
Luke 16:15 begins with:
“Ye are they which justify yourselves before men.”
Esteemed:
“I’m not like other sinners”
“At least I try”
“I’m a good person”
God says:
“All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6)
“God be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13) — this man was justified, not the Pharisee.
Self-righteousness is spiritual pride, and pride is always abomination.
5. POPULARITY & HUMAN PRAISE
Esteemed:
Likes
Followers
Applause
Acceptance
Jesus warned:
“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!” (Luke 6:26)
Why?
Because truth is often offensive.
Faithfulness is rarely fashionable.
6. INTELLECTUAL PRIDE & HUMAN WISDOM
Esteemed:
Intelligence
Philosophy
Rationalism
Mocking faith as “simple”
God says:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise.” (1 Cor 1:19)
“The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” (1 Cor 3:19)
Knowledge without humility produces arrogant unbelief.
7. MORAL COMPROMISE CALLED “PROGRESS”
Esteemed today:
Redefining sin as freedom
Calling evil “good”
Calling conviction “hate”
God says:
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil.” (Isaiah 5:20)
What society celebrates today,
Scripture warns will be judged tomorrow.
8. SELF-LOVE & SELF-FULFILLMENT
Esteemed:
“Live your truth”
“Follow your heart”
“Do what makes you happy”
God says:
“The heart is deceitful above all things.” (Jeremiah 17:9)
“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself.” (Luke 9:23)
Christianity is not self-expression,
it is self-crucifixion.
9. BUSY SUCCESS WITHOUT GOD
Esteemed:
Productivity
Hustle
Achievements
Full schedules
God warns:
“What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)
A full calendar can still house an empty soul.
10. CULTURAL CHRISTIANITY
Esteemed:
Being “Christian” by label
Tradition without transformation
Church without repentance
Jesus said:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord…” (Matt 7:21)
God is not impressed by heritage,
He looks for heart change.
WHY THESE THINGS ARE ABOMINATION
The word abomination means:
detestable
offensive
morally repulsive to God
Why?
Because they:
Replace God with self
Glorify the creature over the Creator
Appear righteous but resist repentance
Distract from eternity
Harden the heart against grace
THE GREAT REVERSAL
Scripture repeatedly teaches this reversal:
“The last shall be first, and the first last.” (Matt 20:16)
“God hath chosen the poor of this world rich in faith.” (James 2:5)
Heaven values what earth ignores.
APPLICATION: SEARCH YOUR HEART
Ask yourself honestly:
What do I secretly admire?
What do I envy?
What do I defend when Scripture confronts it?
What do I fear losing most?
Because:
God knoweth your hearts.
Not your image
Not your words
Not your reputation
THE GOSPEL HOPE
This verse is severe — but not hopeless.
Jesus exposed abomination to heal, not to condemn.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 5:3)
If you:
lay down pride
abandon self-justification
repent sincerely
cling to Christ alone
Then what men despise — humility, repentance, brokenness —
is precious in God’s sight.
CLOSING EXHORTATION
Do not ask:
“What do people think of me?”
Ask:
“What does God see in my heart?”
For the day is coming when:
applause will fade
titles will burn
wealth will vanish
And only one verdict will matter:
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Amen.
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