When the Jews went into captivity they learned a lot of worldly things, and they began to incorporate those things into their worship services. No longer did they just read and obey Moses, but they incorporated traditions and commentaries from past Rabbis. Christ was always asking them "Have ye never read?" because they were putting more emphasis on the traditions and commentaries than the Scriptures.
These parables were something that were meant to edify and warn, but the Pharisees, and Sadducees, and Scribes were too proud to ever humble themselves. And this is why Jesus was always calling them out.
If they had only submitted themselves to the baptism of John, they would have had no problem acknowledging Jesus as their Messiah. And it was this very thing to which Christ kept bringing them back.
Luke 7:29-30- And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
Matthew 21:24-24- And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
Jesus goes on to say how you should think of those who cannot pay you back for what you do for them.
Luke 14:12-14- Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
This was big, because the religious leaders were always mad at Jesus for healing those in need just because they didn't think it was the appropriate day. What better day to get a blessing from God than a day you set aside just for Him? But they didn't see it that way. They saw it as a violation of one of God's rules.
Matthew 5:17-Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
These parables just went over their heads, and not because they were too ignorant, but because they were too proud!
That's the point Jesus made in our next parable.
Luke 18:9-14- And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Jesus said the Pharisee prayed with himself. He was so full of self-righteous boasting that the Lord wasn't even listening!
The "dirty" publican who the Jews hated because they collected taxes for the Romans had enough sense to know that he was a sinner. He had nothing to offer God. And so, humbling himself, he simply admitted this and begged for mercy.
Jesus said that while God ignored the Pharisee, He listened to the publican and extended mercy.
James 4:6-10- But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
James tells us that if we submit to God and cry out for mercy, that God will grant us mercy. But he warns that God isn't going to do that for the proud.
Pride is one of those sneaky sins. You can't look at someone and see the sin of pride. Sometimes we don't even realize when we are full of pride. But God's promise remains true- humble yourself and He will give you mercy.
