Last time, we observed the lavish act of love by “a sinful woman” for Jesus (Luke7). She poured an alabaster flask of fragrant oil on the feet of Jesus and used her hair as a towel to soak up tears and an expensive box of perfume, The outpouring of her heart and the fragrant perfume filled the room with the sweet smell of her fondness for Jesus.

It became an awkward moment for the guests at the house of one of the Pharisees. The Pharisees, in particular , squirmed because Jesus seemed to be unaware of this woman’s sins. Jesus perceived their discomfort and he began the first parable recorded by Luke. The message of the parable was this: Whosoever has been forgiven much, loves much (v.47). The Pharisees had just as much to be forgiven, but their traditions and pride kept them back from seeking the payment of their debt through Jesus.

For Mary, she went away with her burden of debt removed. Her sins were forgiven. It would change her life forever.

What I like about the story is how this woman (likely Mary of Magdalene) shook up the formality of the moment by an act of love. As followers of Christ, our love for Jesus will make people uncomfortable. Lavish acts of love make people aware of their own condition . It may lead them to seek to know the Lord of love we worship. Your light of love is not to be covered up, but exposed for all the see…even if it makes them uncomfortable.

It is from this starting point that many parables are recorded by Luke. They are occasional and spread out through the first 11 chapters of the Luke, Then a turning point occurs at the end of Chapter 11. Jesus scolds the Pharisees for their religious hypocracy. He uses very direct language and begins each sentence with the word “woe”:

“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.”

Luke 11: 42-44

Then Jesus turns to the Lawyers and tells them the truth about their hypocrisy. Here is just a snippet:

^“And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 

Luke 11:46

This very direct sincere disclosure of their deepest sins angers them. They begin to turn on Him:

And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him. Luke 11: 53-54

Then Jesus turns to his disciples and gives them warnings:

He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Luke 12: 1-2

Even here, Jesus uses the symbol of leaven, light and darkness. But what is important to note is that Jesus accelerates the use of parables. Partly because the Pharisees and Lawyers are looking to trap Him in his words so they can begin a smear campaign (accuse Him).

Beginning in this chapter, Jesus tells at least 18 more parables. Chapter 15 and 16 are all parables! There is another reason Jesus used parables besides cloaking the truth in stories and symbols as we will discover next time.