Luke 5:30-32
And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Pharisees and scribes, focused on outward purity and tradition, direct their criticism not at Jesus himself, but at his disciples. This subtle shift reveals their strategy: to shame and isolate Jesus' followers, hoping to make him lose his support and influence by attacking those closest to him.
Jesus has just called Levi (Matthew) to follow him, and Levi throws a large feast in Jesus' honor, inviting many tax collectors and other "sinners." Now, the religious elite—the Pharisees and their scribes, who are the official teachers of the Law—are watching this gathering and grumbling, not directly to Jesus, but to his disciples, questioning why he associates with such people.
The Pharisees and scribes were appalled that Jesus would associate with 'tax collectors and sinners.' But who were these people, and why was Jesus so drawn to them?
In Jesus's day, 'tax collectors and sinners' were terms loaded with shame. Tax collectors (publicans) were often seen as traitors because they worked for the Roman occupiers, and they were notorious for greed. 'Sinners' was a broad category, but it generally referred to those who openly defied Jewish law and tradition, living lives considered impure and unacceptable by the religious elite.
Jesus's Counter-Cultural Mission
The religious leaders saw these groups as beyond hope, people to be avoided. But Jesus saw them differently. He wasn't there to hang out with those who thought they had it all together. His mission, as he stated it, was to seek and save the lost. He declared, 'I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.' This wasn't an insult to the Pharisees; it was a radical redefinition of God's kingdom. Jesus wasn't shunning the outcasts; he was actively inviting them into God's family.
The scribes and Pharisees weren't just casually questioning Jesus; they were part of a system that enforced strict religious rules. What drove their anger, and what does it reveal about their faith?
The scribes were the religious intellectuals of their day, responsible for interpreting and upholding the Law. Over time, they and the Pharisees developed a complex web of traditions and rules, often referred to as the 'oral law.' While intended to safeguard the purity of God's commands, these traditions had become a burdensome legalism.
Defending a Rigid System
Their 'murmuring' wasn't just a personal gripe; it was a defense of their religious status and their interpretation of righteousness. By associating with 'sinners,' Jesus threatened the neat boundaries they had drawn between the 'righteous' (themselves) and the 'unrighteous.' Their faith had become more about maintaining purity and social standing than about the heart-transforming love of God. They enforced 'crushing chains' (as one commentary notes) that bound people rather than freeing them.
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
c. 538 BC
Return from Babylonian Exile
Following the Babylonian Exile, Jewish scribes and Pharisees, focused on upholding the Law, gained prominence as religious leaders and interpreters of tradition.
c. 200 BC - AD 70
Development of Oral Law Traditions
During this period, the scribes and Pharisees solidified a body of oral traditions and interpretations of the Law, which they considered authoritative alongside the written scriptures.
1st Century AD
Pharisaic Influence in Galilee
The Pharisees held significant influence in Jewish society, including regions like Galilee where Capernaum was located, shaping public opinion and religious practice.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Galilean Ministry Begins
Jesus commenced his public ministry, attracting crowds and challenging established religious norms with his teachings and actions.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus dines with Levi (Matthew)
This passage records the same event from Matthew's Gospel, highlighting the scribes' criticism of Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners, reinforcing the theme of religious elites questioning Jesus' association with outcasts.
Luke 15:1-2These verses directly follow the narrative of Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners, showing the Pharisees and scribes grumbling again and prompting Jesus' parables about seeking the lost. This illustrates the ongoing tension and Jesus' response to the criticism.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29This passage speaks to God choosing the weak and lowly, which parallels Jesus' choice to associate with 'sinners' and 'tax collectors.' It shows how God's wisdom often looks foolish to the world's elite.
Galatians 2:11-14Here, Paul confronts Peter for withdrawing from Gentile believers due to pressure from Jewish believers. This mirrors the Luke 5 situation by showing the danger of conforming to religious expectations that exclude people based on their perceived status or lifestyle.
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, focused on outward purity and tradition, direct their criticism not at Jesus himself, but at his disciples. This subtle shift reveals their strategy: to shame and isolate Jesus' followers, hoping to make him lose his support and influence by attacking those closest to him.
Jesus has just called Levi (Matthew) to follow him, and Levi throws a large feast in Jesus' honor, inviting many tax collectors and other "sinners." Now, the religious elite—the Pharisees and their scribes, who are the official teachers of the Law—are watching this gathering and grumbling, not directly to Jesus, but to his disciples, questioning why he associates with such people.
Jesus has just called Levi (Matthew) to follow him, and Levi throws a large feast in Jesus' honor, inviting many tax collectors and other "sinners." Now, the religious elite—the Pharisees and their scribes, who are the official teachers of the Law—are watching this gathering and grumbling, not directly to Jesus, but to his disciples, questioning why he associates with such people.
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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.
iatros · Greek Noun
In a biblical context, this term refers to one who practices medicine, metaphorically signifying Jesus as the divine healer who addresses the spiritual sickness of sin. It denotes someone who brings restoration, wholeness, and life to the broken.
dikaios · Greek Adjective
Biblically, those who are considered legally or morally upright in their own estimation or according to religious standards. In this context, it refers to those who trust in their own law-keeping rather than God's grace.
hamartōlos · Greek Noun
Individuals who have missed the mark of God's holy standard, living in rebellion against His authority. It characterizes the condition of all humanity apart from Christ, requiring divine intervention and reconciliation.
metanoia · Greek Noun
A fundamental change of mind and heart regarding sin and God; a turning away from sin and a turning toward God in faith. It is a necessary response to the proclamation of the Gospel.
Jesus accepts the invitation to dine at the home of Levi, a tax collector, and associates with other tax collectors and 'sinners,' sparking controversy.
"And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not…" — The Pharisees and scribes, focused on outward purity and tradition, direct their criticism not at Jesus himself, but at his disciples. This subtle shift reveals their strategy: to shame and isolate…
