15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God. 16 “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. Luke 16:15–16 (NAS)

Expressways in my county are notorious for forcing multiple lanes of traffic into one lane at major junctions. At the last minute cars forcibly attempt to wedge in to make their connection. This is how Jesus described the common man’s interest in the “good news” of the kingdom, a response at which the eavesdropping Pharisees scoffed.

They were also triggered by Jesus’ takes on money and marriage. They did not find greed and divorce detestable and marginalized the law’s teaching on these subjects to fit their proclivities. Jesus, on the other hand, did not come to dispense with the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). He also said, “it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail” (Luke 16:17).

Since the law was only kept by one man to the letter and in its truest spirit, and was such a high bar to scale, it’s no wonder the people were forcing their way into the line forming behind him.