The Pharisees show their true nature here; they are more interested in people’s opinions than in knowing the truth. Jesus follows up with a story about servants who are unfaithful to their master. The story sums up the relationship between God and the Pharisees. They are leaders among the people but are rejecting Jesus, the Master’s Son. Rather than turn from their rejection, as Zacchaeus did, they and some other leaders, called the Sadducees, continue trying to trap Him into saying something the people won’t like.
The Pharisees weren’t purposely trying to oppose God; they were so blinded by their strongly held beliefs they couldn’t see they were wrong. We need to be open to the teachings of the Bible so we don’t make the mistake of holding onto a false belief.