The enmity of the Jewish rulers continued to increase towards Jesus, especially as more publicans and sinners followed Him. Jesus plainly told and showed them that He was come to seek and to save sinners and not the righteous. He continued to use parables to illustrate His message. In the parable of the prodigal son there is a clear message that for the younger son who had wasted all his possessions, the Father was waiting and willing to receive him back when he repented, but the elder son was as the self righteous Pharisees who would not be glad with the salvation of a sinner.

With the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus teaches that the rich man will perish eternally while Lazarus, the poor beggar, will receive a place in heaven. In the parable of the Pharisee and the publican Jesus shows that the Lord hears the prayer of the penitent and does not regard the prayers of the self-righteous.