“The Pharisees,
Who were lovers
Of money,
Heard all this.
They ridiculed Jesus.”
Ἤκουον δὲ ταῦτα πάντα οἱ Φαρισαῖοι φιλάργυροι ὑπάρχοντες, καὶ ἐξεμυκτήριζον αὐτόν.
Once again, this is a unique statement of Luke, not found in the other gospel stories. Luke indicated that the Pharisees (οἱ Φαρισαῖοι), who were lovers of money (φιλάργυροι ὑπάρχοντες), heard all this (Ἤκουον δὲ ταῦτα πάντα). They ridiculed Jesus (καὶ ἐξεμυκτήριζον αὐτόν). Obviously, Luke was very much opposed to wealth, as this was an insult to the Pharisees to call them money lovers. Luke was the only biblical writer who used the term ἐξεμυκτήριζον that means to hold up your nose in derision, deride, scoff at, or mock. Thus, there was some antipathy between Jesus and the Pharisees that shows up all the time. Are you a lover of money?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 