Luke 15:1-2
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)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
What's striking here is not just that "sinners" were coming to Jesus, but that all of them were drawing near. This wasn't a select few; it was a whole crowd, indicating Jesus' magnetic pull on those society had cast aside.
Jesus is surrounded by tax collectors and other "sinners" eager to hear his message, which sparks outrage among the religious elite. The Pharisees and scribes are grumbling because Jesus is associating with and even eating with these outcasts. This immediate tension sets the stage for Jesus to tell the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son to explain why he welcomes sinners.
Why did the 'undesirables' of society flock to Jesus? It wasn't just his words, but the very way he was.
In Luke 15:1, we see a powerful picture: 'Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.' This wasn't a small, hesitant group. The word 'all' suggests a significant crowd, drawn from the fringes of society. These were people marginalized by religious and social norms—tax collectors, often seen as traitors, and sinners, those living openly against Jewish law.
Why the Attraction?
The crowds flocking to Jesus sparked outrage in others. What was behind their grumbling?
The very scene that drew sinners to Jesus—his open acceptance of them—provoked anger in the Pharisees and scribes. They 'murmured, saying, 'This man receives sinners and eats with them.'' This wasn't just a casual complaint; it was a deep-seated offense.
The Core Issue:
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
Jesus' ministry intentionally drew the marginalized, including tax collectors and those deemed 'sinners,' into his presence. Their approach was a direct response to his welcoming nature, challenging the rigid social and religious boundaries imposed by groups like the Pharisees.
c. AD 27-28
Jesus begins public ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, calling disciples and teaching about the Kingdom of God.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus eats with tax collectors
Jesus accepts invitations to dine with tax collectors and 'sinners,' prompting criticism from religious leaders.
c. AD 28
Pharisees and scribes criticize Jesus
The religious elite murmur in disapproval, viewing Jesus' association with outcasts as improper and scandalous.
c. AD 28
Jesus tells parables of the Lost
In response to criticism, Jesus recounts the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son to explain his mission.
This passage shows Jesus's concern for the poor and marginalized, highlighting His welcoming nature towards those society overlooked, which resonates with the attraction felt by 'sinners' in Luke 15:1.
Matthew 9:10-13This parallel account describes Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners, drawing the same criticism from the Pharisees as in Luke 15, and Jesus's response that He came to call sinners to repentance.
Luke 19:1-10The story of Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, shows a sinner drawing near to Jesus, demonstrating the powerful draw Jesus had on those considered outcasts and the subsequent salvation offered.
Isaiah 55:1-3This prophetic passage describes a gracious invitation from God to all who thirst, particularly to those who have no money, reflecting the open invitation Jesus extended to all, including sinners, to hear His words.
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."
What's striking here is not just that "sinners" were coming to Jesus, but that all of them were drawing near. This wasn't a select few; it was a whole crowd, indicating Jesus' magnetic pull on those society had cast aside.
Jesus is surrounded by tax collectors and other "sinners" eager to hear his message, which sparks outrage among the religious elite. The Pharisees and scribes are grumbling because Jesus is associating with and even eating with these outcasts. This immediate tension sets the stage for Jesus to tell the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son to explain why he welcomes sinners.
Jesus is surrounded by tax collectors and other "sinners" eager to hear his message, which sparks outrage among the religious elite. The Pharisees and scribes are grumbling because Jesus is associating with and even eating with these outcasts. This immediate tension sets the stage for Jesus to tell the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son to explain why he welcomes sinners.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Luke 15:1-2 is available in the Sola app.
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.
"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.”" — What's striking here is not just that "sinners" were coming to Jesus, but that all of them were drawing near. This wasn't a select few; it was a whole crowd, indicating Jesus' magnetic pull on thos…
