Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text emphasizes that "all" the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near, not just a few. This isn't just about them showing up; it highlights a widespread, significant movement of outcasts drawn to Jesus, indicating His unique appeal to those society had marginalized.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is in a region where crowds are gathering to hear him, and he's just finished teaching about humility and the importance of welcoming the lowly. This verse marks the beginning of a significant section in Luke where Jesus directly engages with those on the fringes of society, causing the religious elite to grumble. The scene sets up Jesus' response to their criticism by telling parables about finding what is lost.
Imagine the scene: Jesus is surrounded, not by the religious elite, but by those society has cast aside. What drew them in?
The verse paints a vivid picture of Jesus' ministry drawing a specific crowd: 'tax collectors and sinners.' These weren't just ordinary folks; they were the outcasts of Jewish society. Tax collectors, known for their greed and collaboration with Roman oppressors, and 'sinners,' a broad term for those who openly defied religious law, were typically shunned. Yet, Luke tells us they were 'all drawing near to hear him.' This wasn't accidental. It reveals Jesus' mission wasn't primarily for those who thought they had it all together, but for those who knew they were broken and lost. Their presence signals that Jesus' message resonated with people who felt forgotten and unloved by the religious establishment.
While sinners flocked to Jesus, a different reaction brewed among the religious leaders. What was their problem?
The immediate response in Luke 15:2 is the 'murmuring' of the Pharisees and scribes: 'This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.' Their indignation highlights a stark contrast in perspective. For them, associating with sinners was a violation of religious purity and social order. They saw Jesus' actions as condoning sin. However, Jesus saw it as fulfilling his purpose—to seek and save the lost. This sets the stage for the parables that follow, where Jesus explains that heaven rejoices over a repenting sinner far more than over those who feel self-righteously secure. The Pharisees’ judgment reveals their lack of understanding about God’s heart for the lost, while the sinners’ drawing near reveals their openness to God’s grace.
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Understand the original words
telōnai · Greek Noun
Individuals authorized by the Roman government to collect taxes, often viewed by their fellow Jews as traitors and collaborators, and ritually unclean due to constant contact with Gentiles.
hamartōloi · Greek Noun
General term for those who violate God's moral law or are socially ostracized; in the Gospels, it often refers to those whom the religious elite considered beyond the reach of divine grace.
Pharisaioi · Greek Noun
A major Jewish religious group known for strict adherence to the oral and written Law of Moses; they often emphasized separation from those deemed 'unclean' to maintain holiness.
grammateis · Greek Noun
Experts and scholars of the Torah responsible for interpreting and teaching the Law; they held significant influence in Jewish society and usually aligned with the Pharisees.
c. AD 27
John the Baptist's Ministry
John the Baptist, a forerunner to Jesus, preached a message of repentance in the wilderness, calling people to turn back to God. This prepared the way for Jesus' public ministry.
c. AD 28
Jesus Begins Public Ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, calling disciples and teaching about the Kingdom of God. His message and actions start to attract large crowds.
c. AD 29
Jesus' Popularity Grows
Jesus' fame spreads as he performs miracles and teaches with authority. He attracts followers from all walks of life, including many who are considered outcasts by religious society.
c. AD 29
Jesus Invited to Pharisee's House
Jesus accepts an invitation to dine at the house of a Pharisee, a religious leader. This provides an opportunity for him to interact with prominent religious figures.
c. AD 29— this verse
Pharisees and Scribes Observe Jesus
Religious leaders, the Pharisees and scribes, watch Jesus closely. They are critical of his association with 'sinners' and tax collectors, viewing it as a violation of religious law and custom.
c. AD 29
Jesus Tells Parables of Lost Things
In response to the murmuring of the religious leaders, Jesus tells the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son, illustrating God's joy over repentant sinners.
This passage directly parallels Jesus' association with 'tax collectors and sinners,' noting that 'wisdom is justified by her deeds,' implying His actions were inherently good and divinely guided.
Luke 19:10Jesus' statement that 'the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost' directly explains His motivation for drawing near to tax collectors and sinners, echoing the very purpose for His presence among them.
Luke 5:31-32Jesus' response to the Pharisees about the sick needing a physician connects to the 'sinners' drawing near, as He states He has come not for the righteous but for sinners to call them to repentance.
Ezekiel 34:16This Old Testament prophecy about God seeking the lost sheep provides a powerful backdrop for Jesus' ministry to the outcasts, showing that this compassion for the lost was a long-foretold aspect of God's redemptive plan.
calvinLuke 15:1-10: "Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him."
- For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12. What think you? If a man shall have a hundred sheep, and one of them shall go astray, doth he not leave the ninety-nine, and go to the mountains, and seek that which had gone astray? 13. And if he happen to find it, verily, I say to you, he rejoiceth more on account of that sheep than on account of the ninety-nine which had gone astray. 14. So it…
jfbLuke 15:1: "Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him."
CHAPTER 15Lu 15:1-32. Publicans and Sinners Welcomed by Christ—Three Parables to Explain This.1. drew near … all the publicans and sinners, &c.—drawn around Him by the extraordinary adaptation of His teaching to their case, who, till He appeared—at least His forerunner—might well say, "No man careth for my soul."
The text emphasizes that "all" the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near, not just a few. This isn't just about them showing up; it highlights a widespread, significant movement of outcasts drawn to Jesus, indicating His unique appeal to those society had marginalized.
Jesus is in a region where crowds are gathering to hear him, and he's just finished teaching about humility and the importance of welcoming the lowly. This verse marks the beginning of a significant section in Luke where Jesus directly engages with those on the fringes of society, causing the religious elite to grumble. The scene sets up Jesus' response to their criticism by telling parables about finding what is lost.
Jesus is in a region where crowds are gathering to hear him, and he's just finished teaching about humility and the importance of welcoming the lowly. This verse marks the beginning of a significant section in Luke where Jesus directly engages with those on the fringes of society, causing the religious elite to grumble. The scene sets up Jesus' response to their criticism by telling parables about finding what is lost.
"Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”" — The text emphasizes that "all" the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near, not just a few. This isn't just about them showing up; it highlights a widespread, significant movement of outcasts dr…
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Last reviewed October 2026