What does Luke 16:14 mean?

Jesus has told a parable about how His disciples need to use their money and resources wisely (Luke 16:1–13). They should not place a high priority on keeping money but on using it for others. If they love money, they prove they don't love God.

The Pharisees don't want to hear this. They want to be seen as devoted to God, but they also love money. Elsewhere Jesus condemns them for pledging money to the temple in a way that allows them to keep it and not use it to support their needy parents (Mark 7:9–13). Jesus says certain religious leaders "devour widows' houses" (Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47).

The idea that Pharisees love money isn't well-developed in Scripture but it is entirely consistent with the passages that show how much they love things of the world. They prove this every time they criticize Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. They're so threatened by Jesus' true love for God and others that they claim He is empowered by Satan (Luke 11:14–15). In response, Jesus calls them "unmarked graves" (Luke 11:44).

The only weapon the Pharisees have at this moment is to ridicule Jesus: to snort and sneer at Him. Their power comes from their popularity with the people they intimidate and manipulate. They claim to love the Mosaic law, but they are quick to abandon it if it doesn't suit them, following their manmade traditions instead. Jesus warns that what they value "is an abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16:15). He tells them that salvation isn't about rote behavior, but the Law still teaches how they can show love for God and others (Luke 16:16–17).