Pastors who love money and engage in extortion may outwardly appear to be respectable religious leaders, but inwardly they worship the idol of money and exploit the souls of people. Jesus teaches that, in God's sight, their true nature is like foul-smelling filth. “The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, ‘You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight’” (Luke 16:14–15). (1) As I read Jesus' words in the first half of Luke 16:14, “The Pharisees, who loved money,” I found myself rereading a brief devotional reflection I had previously written entitled “Pastors Who Love Money Like the Pharisees…” Pastors who love money like the Pharisees are proud and do not acknowledge God. Because of their sin, not only they themselves but also...
