And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The people's grumbling reveals a deep-seated judgment: they saw "sinner" not just as a moral failing, but as an identity so defining that association with it was unthinkable for someone like Jesus. This highlights how easily we can label and exclude others, failing to see the potential for transformation and the very reason Jesus came.
And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Jesus passes through Jericho, a short, wealthy tax collector named Zacchaeus, eager to see him, climbs a tree because the crowd is too large. Jesus singles him out, astonishing everyone by inviting himself to Zacchaeus' house for a meal. This invitation sparks immediate grumbling among the onlookers, who condemn Jesus for associating with a man widely considered a sinner.
Why did the crowd react so strongly to Jesus going to Zaccheus' house? It wasn't just about a
Who Was Zaccheus?
The text calls Zaccheus the 'chief of the tax collectors' and wealthy. In the eyes of the people, tax collectors were deeply despised. They were seen as working for the oppressive Roman government, often extorting money from their own people. Because of this, they were grouped with 'sinners' – not just people who made mistakes, but those living outwardly scandalous lives.
More Than Just a Job
This wasn't just a job; it was a status. The 'chief' tax collector likely oversaw others and was responsible for collecting a significant amount of tax money. This position often involved dishonesty and greed, making Zaccheus a symbol of everything the religious and upright people of Jericho detested. The crowd's reaction in Luke 19:7 shows how deeply ingrained this prejudice was – they could barely conceive of Jesus, a supposed righteous man, associating with someone they considered so corrupt.
Jesus didn't just tolerate Zaccheus; He actively sought him out. What does this tell us about God's heart?
God's Mission to the Lost
The crowd saw a religious leader associating with a sinner and found it scandalous. Jesus, however, saw something entirely different. He saw a soul that needed saving.
The Son of Man's Purpose
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Jesus' own words in Luke 19:10, 'For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost,' perfectly explain His actions. He wasn't there to applaud the 'righteous' who felt they had no need of Him. He was on a mission for those on the fringes, those the world had written off.
His willingness to enter Zaccheus' house, an act that was completely unexpected and against social norms, demonstrates the depth of His grace. It wasn't about endorsing Zaccheus' past actions, but about initiating a transformative encounter that would lead to salvation.
Zaccheus didn't just hear Jesus; he responded radically. What signs showed his change was real?
From Greed to Generosity
When faced with Jesus' incredible grace, Zaccheus didn't offer excuses. Instead, he stood and declared his immediate intention to change. His words are a powerful testament to genuine repentance.
Tangible Transformation
He didn't say, 'I'll try to do better.' He declared, 'Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor!' This wasn't a small gesture; it was a massive redistribution of wealth, showing a complete turning away from his former life of accumulation.
Furthermore, he addressed his past wrongs: 'if I have defrauded anyone, I restore it fourfold.' This goes beyond mere restitution; it's a promise to make amends, demonstrating that his faith wasn't just a mental assent but a heart-transforming reality that produced outward actions of justice and mercy.
Understand the original words
hamartōlos · Greek Noun
In the New Testament, this often refers to those who openly oppose God’s law, are morally deficient, or are considered social outcasts because of their lifestyle; in this context, it reflects the religious leaders' judgment of Zacchaeus as one outside the covenant community.
The intense social and religious divisions in Jewish society at the time, particularly the deep animosity towards tax collectors like Zaccheus, created a charged atmosphere. The crowd's murmuring highlights their prejudice and inability to see beyond Zaccheus' profession, underscoring Jesus' radical embrace of the outcast.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus travels through Jericho
Jesus enters Jericho and encounters Zaccheus, a wealthy chief tax collector, who is eager to see Him despite his short stature and the crowd. Jesus, aware of Zaccheus' desire, calls him down from a sycamore tree and invites Himself to Zaccheus' home.
c. 30 AD
Zaccheus' conversion and repentance
While Jesus is a guest in his home, Zaccheus publicly declares his repentance, vowing to give half his possessions to the poor and to restore fourfold any amount he defrauded. Jesus declares that salvation has come to Zaccheus' house.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' public ministry in Judea
This event occurs during Jesus' final journey to Jerusalem, a period marked by His growing popularity and the increasing opposition from religious authorities.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem
Shortly after the encounter in Jericho, Jesus makes His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, which fuels messianic expectations among His followers and intensifies the conflict with Jewish leaders.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection
The events in Jericho and Jerusalem lead to Jesus' crucifixion and subsequent resurrection, the pivotal moments of Christian faith.
This passage directly addresses the same grumbling Jesus faced when He ate with 'sinners,' highlighting the recurring tension between Jesus' inclusive ministry and the religious establishment's exclusivity.
John 1:47Jesus' description of Nathanael as 'an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit' echoes the affirmation of Zaccheus as a 'son of Abraham,' showing Jesus' ability to see true character beyond outward perceptions.
Matthew 9:10-13This account of Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners also provoked criticism, reinforcing the theme that Jesus' mission was specifically to the lost and marginalized, not just the self-righteous.
Luke 18:9-14The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector directly contrasts the self-righteousness of the former with the humility and repentance of the latter, mirroring the crowd's judgmental attitude versus Zaccheus' transformed heart.
Acts 10:34-35Peter's declaration that 'God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him' provides a theological framework for understanding why Jesus would welcome a 'sinner' like Zaccheus.
calvinLuke 19:1-10: "And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho."
- And having entered, he passeth through Jericho. [674] 2. And, lo, a man named Zaccheus, and he was chief of the publicans, and was rich. 3. And he sought to see Jesus who he was, [675] and could not on account of the multitude; for he was of small stature. 4. And running before, he climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him; for he was to pass that way. 5. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said to hi…
vincentLuke 19:7: "And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner."
To be guest (καταλῦσαι)More correctly, Rev., lodge. See on Luke 9:12.A sinnerSee on Luke 3:12.
The people's grumbling reveals a deep-seated judgment: they saw "sinner" not just as a moral failing, but as an identity so defining that association with it was unthinkable for someone like Jesus. This highlights how easily we can label and exclude others, failing to see the potential for transformation and the very reason Jesus came.
As Jesus passes through Jericho, a short, wealthy tax collector named Zacchaeus, eager to see him, climbs a tree because the crowd is too large. Jesus singles him out, astonishing everyone by inviting himself to Zacchaeus' house for a meal. This invitation sparks immediate grumbling among the onlookers, who condemn Jesus for associating with a man widely considered a sinner.
As Jesus passes through Jericho, a short, wealthy tax collector named Zacchaeus, eager to see him, climbs a tree because the crowd is too large. Jesus singles him out, astonishing everyone by inviting himself to Zacchaeus' house for a meal. This invitation sparks immediate grumbling among the onlookers, who condemn Jesus for associating with a man widely considered a sinner.
"And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”" — The people's grumbling reveals a deep-seated judgment: they saw "sinner" not just as a moral failing, but as an identity so defining that association with it was unthinkable for someone like Jesus. T…
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Last reviewed October 2026