Luke 5:30
And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The Pharisees and scribes didn't just question Jesus' disciples; they directed their criticism at the disciples to indirectly condemn Jesus. By focusing on the disciples' action, they tried to isolate Jesus and imply his fellowship with "sinners" was beneath him, a subtle but potent tactic to undermine his authority.
Jesus has just called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him, and Matthew immediately hosts a large dinner party for Jesus and His disciples. This gathering includes many other tax collectors and "sinners," prompting the local religious leaders to openly criticize Jesus' disciples for associating with such people. They question why their Master would dine with those they considered outcasts from God's favor.
Why did the Pharisees get so bent out of shape about who Jesus ate with? It wasn't just about manners.
The Pharisees and their scribes were deeply concerned with religious purity. This wasn't just about personal hygiene; it was a system of laws and traditions designed to keep people from being 'defiled' by contact with those considered unclean.
Jesus wasn't just breaking bread; he was breaking down barriers. His response reveals a completely different approach to God's people.
Jesus’ actions and his eventual response to this criticism reveal a revolutionary vision for God’s kingdom. While the Pharisees focused on exclusion based on outward actions and perceived purity, Jesus prioritized inclusion and transformation.
Understand the original words
Pharisaioi · Greek Noun
A Jewish religious group known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the oral traditions. They sought to maintain purity by separating themselves from any who did not conform to their interpretation of the Law.
grammateus · Greek Noun
Experts in the interpretation and application of the Mosaic Law. They were responsible for teaching, copying, and preserving the Scriptures, often serving as theological authorities.
gongyzō · Greek Verb
An expression of discontent or complaint, often murmuring against divine authority or those acting under it. In a biblical context, it frequently reflects a heart of unbelief or pride.
hamartōlos · Greek Noun
The conflict arises from the deeply ingrained religious and social divisions in Jewish society, where strict adherence to the Law, as interpreted by the Pharisees and scribes, dictated who was considered righteous and who was an outcast. Jesus' open association with 'sinners' and tax collectors directly challenged this established order.
c. 538 BC
Return from Babylonian Exile
Following the Babylonian Exile, Jewish scribes began to gain prominence as interpreters and teachers of the Law, forming the basis of a system of religious tradition.
c. 300 BC - AD 220
Era of the Tanaim
This period saw the codification of Jewish oral law and tradition by the Tanaim, who were the successors to the earlier scribes. Their interpretations heavily influenced religious practice and created a system of 'oral law.'
Early 1st century AD
Roman Taxation System in Judea
The Roman Empire imposed direct taxes in Judea, which were collected by local tax collectors (publicans). This role was often seen as collaborating with the oppressors and was deeply despised by many Jews.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
Jesus began his public ministry, traveling and teaching throughout Galilee, drawing crowds and challenging the religious establishment.
This passage describes the same incident from Matthew's perspective, highlighting the scribes' question about Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners, underscoring the religious leaders' consistent disapproval of Jesus's association with marginalized groups.
1 Corinthians 1:27Paul echoes Jesus's logic here, explaining that God chooses the weak and foolish (comparable to the 'sinners' Jesus dined with) to shame the wise and strong, revealing a divine pattern of valuing the overlooked.
Galatians 2:11-13This passage shows Peter acting inconsistently, separating himself from Gentiles when certain Jewish leaders arrived, demonstrating the very prejudice that Jesus was confronting by dining with 'sinners'.
Luke 15:2This verse immediately follows Jesus's dining with tax collectors and sinners, where the Pharisees and scribes grumble again, prompting Jesus to tell the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and prodigal son, revealing God's heart for the lost.
clarkeLuke 5:30: "But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?"
Why do ye eat and drink, etc. - See what passed at this entertainment considered at large on Matthew 9:10-17 (note); Mark 2:15-22 (note).
cambridgeLuke 5:30: "But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?"
30 . their scribes and Pharisees ] Some MSS. read ‘ the Pharisees and their scribes ,’ i. e. those who were the authorised teachers of the company present. The scribes ( Sopherîm from Sepher ‘a book’) were a body which had sprung up after the exile, whose function it was to copy and explain the Law. The ‘words of the scribes’ were the nucleus of the body of tr…
The Pharisees and scribes didn't just question Jesus' disciples; they directed their criticism at the disciples to indirectly condemn Jesus. By focusing on the disciples' action, they tried to isolate Jesus and imply his fellowship with "sinners" was beneath him, a subtle but potent tactic to undermine his authority.
Jesus has just called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him, and Matthew immediately hosts a large dinner party for Jesus and His disciples. This gathering includes many other tax collectors and "sinners," prompting the local religious leaders to openly criticize Jesus' disciples for associating with such people. They question why their Master would dine with those they considered outcasts from God's favor.
Jesus has just called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him, and Matthew immediately hosts a large dinner party for Jesus and His disciples. This gathering includes many other tax collectors and "sinners," prompting the local religious leaders to openly criticize Jesus' disciples for associating with such people. They question why their Master would dine with those they considered outcasts from God's favor.
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 5:30 is available in the Sola app.
Individuals recognized by the religious community as failing to adhere to the Law, often used to categorize those considered ritually unclean or morally corrupt. Jesus sought these people specifically to offer them repentance.
c. AD 29
Jesus Calls Levi (Matthew)
Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector in Capernaum, to be one of his disciples. This event is a direct precursor to the meal described in the passage.
c. AD 29— this verse
Jesus Feasts with Tax Collectors and Sinners
Jesus attends a banquet hosted by Levi, where he dines with other tax collectors and people considered 'sinners' by the religious elite. This is the specific event that sparks the controversy.
"And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”" — The Pharisees and scribes didn't just question Jesus' disciples; they directed their criticism at the disciples to indirectly condemn Jesus. By focusing on the disciples' action, they tried to isolat…
