The Kingdom, the Law, and What God Values

The money-loving Pharisees mock Jesus. He replies that God knows hearts, that what humans highly esteem may be abomination before God, and that the law and prophets stand in relation to the kingdom now being preached. A saying about divorce then exposes the seriousness of covenant faithfulness.

Where this fits in the story: Jesus is not presenting kingdom and Scripture as enemies. The law and prophets bear witness within the movement toward God’s reign.

The short unit is difficult because several sayings are compressed together; interpretation should resist making one verse carry more than its immediate wording can support.