16:14-15 How is "that which is highly esteemed among men" defined?

Jesus is responding here to the Pharisees ridiculing Him for telling them that they could not serve both God and mammon in V13 (cp V13). Mammon personifies materialism or worldly riches. The Pharisees were money-lovers, but the phrase "that which is highly esteemed among men" applies to much more that possessions or wealth.

It covers the whole spectrum of what the world exalts and promotes, not only wealth and possessions, but pride, greed, status and importance, prominence, ambition, self-gratifying pleasures, power and celebrity, which also includes fashion trends, sport, t.v., radio, movies, magazines and books etc.

This is not teaching that Christians cannot dress nicely or be involved in sport, watch t.v., listen to the radio, or read magazines and books etc. But they must not be caught up in fashions or be inordinately interested in sport, titillated by t.v. shows or movies, listen to worldly radio programmes, or read worldly books and magazines.

Christians are beguiled into believing that there is no harm in any of these things. But this begs the question: how can they justify any form of amusement or entertainment for themselves while any member of their family is not yet saved, or their best friend or next door neighbour is going to hell?

Christians cannot derive pleasure from worldly things at the expense of doing God's work, and please God (cp Eph 5:15-17; Col 4:5; Jas 4:4; 1Jn 2:15-17 with Mt 7:21-27). See also comments on Jn 15:18-25, Ga 6:14, Jas 4:1-4, 1Jn 2:15-17