What was the reason for this verse's revelation?

Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597 AH / 1201 CE) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr":

1. Allāh revealed the verse : "Present to them an example: the people of the city, when the messengers came to it" (36:13) and the verse: "And We have certainly created man and We know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein" (50:16). The Jews said, "What are these examples?" So this verse was revealed. [Ibn ʿAbbās, al-Ḥasan, Qatādah, Muqātil, al-Farrāʾ]
2. When Allāh presented the examples of the previous nations, such as the verse: "Like the example of one who kindled a fire" (2:17) and the verse: "Or [it is] like a rainstorm from the sky" (2:19), the hypocrites said, "Allāh is far greater and higher than to present these examples." So this verse was revealed. [Al-Suddī from his teachers; al-Ḥasan; Mujāhid]