“And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:14,15)
Jesus divided those who were of the light from those who were of the darkness. The brightness of the light reveals the glory of God and reproves the darkness. Those walking in darkness hate the light because they hate being corrected. They prefer to justify their actions. They have set their course, and are determined to do what they are going to do. They don’t want any “naysayers” standing in their way. Of them God says: “”…Their course is evil, and their force is not right.” (Jer. 23:10)
To walk in one’s own “light” is to be a scorner who has rejected the wisdom and counsel of God. Despite how the Pharisees saw themselves and each other, Jesus saw them as pretenders who drew near to God with their mouths only. They hated Him for the convicting light He shone on their stubborn ways and unsubmitted hearts. They joined forces to deride Him for His “crazy” notions of what it meant to love God.
The world loves its own. Know you are on a wrong path when those of the world cheer your actions. Jesus said: “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!” (Luke 6:26) Of course they’ll applaud you when your path aligns with theirs. Of course they’ll be happy with you when your actions serve to justify them. But know at such a time when they are patting you on the back, you have become an enemy of God.