Luke 5:30

KJV

But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G2532} their {G846} scribes {G1122} and {G2532} Pharisees {G5330} murmured {G1111} against {G4314} his {G846} disciples {G3101}, saying {G3004}, Why {G1302} do ye eat {G2068} and {G2532} drink {G4095} with {G3326} publicans {G5057} and {G2532} sinners {G268}?

Complete Jewish Bible

The P'rushim and their Torah-teachers protested indignantly against his talmidim, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax-collectors and sinners?"

Berean Standard Bible

But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

American Standard Version

And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with the publicans and sinners?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 5:30 captures a pivotal moment of tension, revealing the stark contrast between Jesus' radical inclusivity and the rigid legalism of the religious elite. The scribes and Pharisees, observing Jesus and His disciples sharing a meal with tax collectors and other societal outcasts, voice their indignant disapproval, questioning why such holy men would associate with those deemed morally and ceremonially unclean. This verse encapsulates a fundamental clash of worldviews regarding righteousness, fellowship, and the very nature of God's redemptive mission.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jesus' transformative call of Levi (also known as Matthew), a tax collector, to be His disciple in [Luke 5:27-28](/luke/5-27-28 "Luke 5:27-28 - The Call of Levi"). In response to his newfound faith and commitment, Levi hosts a great feast in his home, inviting a large company of his former colleagues—publicans and other "sinners"—to dine with Jesus and His disciples ([Luke 5:29](/luke/5-29 "Luke 5:29 - Levi's Feast")). The act of sharing a meal in ancient Near Eastern culture was a profound symbol of fellowship, acceptance, and solidarity. The Pharisees' question in [Luke 5:30](/luke/5-30 "Luke 5:30 - Pharisees Question Jesus' Fellowship") is a direct response to this scandalous display of table fellowship, setting the stage for Jesus' powerful declaration about His mission to the sick, not the healthy, in [Luke 5:31-32](/luke/5-31-32 "Luke 5:31-32 - Jesus' Reply to the Pharisees").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The scribes were experts in the Mosaic Law and Jewish traditions, serving as interpreters and teachers. The Pharisees were a prominent Jewish religious sect known for their strict adherence to the Law, their oral traditions, and their fervent desire for ritual purity and separation from anything they considered defiling. They believed that associating with "sinners" (a broad category including those who did not adhere to their standards of righteousness, such as tax collectors, prostitutes, and others deemed morally corrupt or ritually unclean) would compromise their own purity and standing before God. Publicans (tax collectors) were particularly despised by their fellow Jews for several reasons: they collaborated with the Roman occupying power, often extorted more money than legally due, and their profession involved handling pagan money and frequent association with Gentiles, rendering them ritually impure. For the Pharisees, Jesus' willingness to eat with such individuals was not merely a social faux pas but a profound theological offense, undermining their entire system of righteousness based on separation and external observance.
* **Key Themes:** Luke 5:30 highlights several crucial themes that run throughout the Gospel of Luke and the broader New Testament. Firstly, it underscores **Jesus' Mission to the Marginalized**. Unlike the religious leaders who distanced themselves from those considered "unclean," Jesus actively sought out and ministered to society's outcasts, demonstrating that His kingdom was open to all, especially those in desperate need of spiritual healing ([Luke 19:10](/luke/19-10 "Luke 19:10 - Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost")). Secondly, the verse reveals a profound **Clash of Righteousness**: the Pharisees' self-righteousness, rooted in external conformity and legalistic separation, stands in stark contrast to Jesus' divine righteousness, which extends grace, mercy, and transformative power. The Pharisees believed association with sinners defiled them, while Jesus' presence was inherently cleansing and redemptive. Finally, it emphasizes the theme of **Radical Fellowship and Inclusion**. Jesus' willingness to share a meal with publicans and sinners was a profound act of acceptance, signifying His desire for relationship and His invitation to the kingdom, challenging the exclusive boundaries imposed by human tradition and legalism. This act foreshadows the open table fellowship of the new covenant.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **murmured (Greek, _gongýzō'_):** This term describes a low, grumbling, often discontented complaint, typically expressed in hushed tones or behind someone's back, rather than an open, direct confrontation. It conveys a sense of simmering resentment and disapproval, indicating that the scribes and Pharisees were not merely questioning but expressing a deep-seated, negative judgment against Jesus and His disciples.
* **scribes (Greek, _grammateús'_):** Derived from the word for "writing," a scribe was a professional writer, secretary, or, in the context of Jewish society, an expert in the Mosaic Law. They were responsible for copying, interpreting, and teaching the Scriptures, holding significant authority and influence within the religious establishment.
* **Pharisees (Greek, _Pharisaîos'_):** This term, of Hebrew origin, means "separatist." The Pharisees were a prominent Jewish sect characterized by their strict adherence to the Mosaic Law and their extensive oral traditions. They sought to apply the laws of ritual purity to daily life, distinguishing themselves from the common people and especially from those they considered morally or ritually impure.
* **publicans (Greek, _telṓnēs'_):** This word literally means "tax-farmer" or "collector of public revenue." Publicans were Jewish tax collectors who worked for the Roman government. They were reviled by their countrymen as traitors, extortionists, and morally corrupt individuals who were ritually unclean due to their interactions with Gentiles and handling of pagan money.
* **sinners (Greek, _hamartōlós'_):** While all humanity is sinful, in this context, "sinners" refers not just to those who commit sins generally, but specifically to those individuals who were considered moral outcasts, flagrant transgressors of Jewish law and tradition, or those living in open rebellion against God's commands as defined by the religious elite. This category included prostitutes, thieves, and others deemed beyond the pale of respectable society.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples,"**: This opening clause immediately establishes the opposition. The "scribes and Pharisees" represent the entrenched religious authority of the day, whose worldview was diametrically opposed to Jesus' ministry. Their "murmuring" indicates a covert, yet pervasive, disapproval, a form of criticism that suggests a lack of courage for direct confrontation but a strong undercurrent of judgment. The target of their initial complaint is "his disciples," perhaps as a proxy for Jesus Himself, or because the disciples were more accessible for such a passive-aggressive challenge.
* **"saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?"**: This is the core of their accusation, framed as a question. It highlights their profound objection to the disciples' (and by extension, Jesus') table fellowship with individuals whom they considered morally and ritually defiled. For the Pharisees, sharing a meal was an act of intimate communion, signifying acceptance and shared values. To do so with "publicans and sinners" was seen as a compromise of holiness, a transgression of their strict purity codes, and an endorsement of unrighteous behavior. Their question reveals their legalistic mindset and their inability to comprehend a righteousness that extends grace and seeks out the lost.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs **Contrast** to highlight the fundamental difference between Jesus' ministry and the religious establishment's approach to righteousness. The scribes and Pharisees, representing a system of separation and exclusion, are contrasted with Jesus and His disciples, who embody a radical inclusivity. This contrast sets up the subsequent theological discourse. There is also an element of **Irony**, as those who claim to be closest to God's law are the very ones who fail to recognize and embrace the heart of God's redemptive mission, which is to seek and save the lost. The verse is presented as a **Dialogue** (or rather, a rhetorical question), which immediately draws the reader into the tension and anticipates Jesus' profound response in the following verses, turning a mere observation into a direct challenge to His authority and methods.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 5:30 is a foundational text for understanding the heart of Jesus' mission: to seek and save the lost, not to affirm the self-righteous. It exposes the inherent flaw in a legalistic system that prioritizes external purity and human traditions over compassion and grace. The Pharisees' question reveals their misunderstanding of God's nature and His desire for reconciliation with humanity. Jesus' willingness to engage with "publicans and sinners" demonstrates that God's love is not reserved for the already "good" but actively pursues those in need of repentance and transformation. This encounter foreshadows the breaking down of barriers between people and God, and between different groups of people, through the new covenant established in Christ. It affirms that true righteousness is not found in separation from the world's brokenness, but in bringing God's redemptive presence into it.

* [Matthew 9:10-13](/matthew/9-10-13 "Matthew 9:10-13 - Jesus Eats with Sinners and Calls Sinners to Repentance")
* [Mark 2:15-17](/mark/2-15-17 "Mark 2:15-17 - Jesus Explains His Mission to Call Sinners")
* [Luke 15:1-2](/luke/15-1-2 "Luke 15:1-2 - Pharisees and Scribes Grumble at Jesus' Fellowship with Sinners")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 5:30 serves as a powerful mirror, challenging believers to honestly examine their own attitudes and practices regarding fellowship, judgment, and outreach. Do we, like the Pharisees, inadvertently create spiritual "in-groups" and "out-groups," based on perceived righteousness or social standing? Are we more concerned with maintaining our own purity by avoiding "sinners" than with extending the transforming grace of Christ to them? Jesus' example compels us to dismantle any self-imposed barriers that prevent us from engaging with those society deems unworthy or morally compromised. Our mission, like His, is not to condemn the world but to offer it salvation. This requires a posture of humility, compassion, and a willingness to step into uncomfortable spaces, trusting that Christ's presence within us is a source of cleansing and transformation, not defilement. We are called to be agents of reconciliation, bringing the light and hope of the Gospel to those who need it most, remembering that we ourselves were once "sinners" in need of a Savior.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, consciously or unconsciously, create barriers between myself and those I perceive as "sinners" or "outsiders"?**
* **How does Jesus' willingness to eat with publicans and sinners challenge my understanding of Christian fellowship and outreach?**
* **Am I more focused on external adherence to rules or on embodying the compassionate heart of God towards the lost?**
* **What practical steps can I take to extend grace and build bridges to those who are marginalized or considered "unworthy" by society?**

### FAQ
**Why was eating with 'publicans and sinners' such a controversial act for the Pharisees?**

Answer: For the Pharisees, sharing a meal was a deeply significant act of fellowship and acceptance, implying shared values and a common standing before God. Eating with "publicans" (tax collectors) and "sinners" was controversial for several interconnected reasons. Publicans were viewed as traitors for collaborating with the Roman occupiers and were often corrupt, making them despised. Both publicans and "sinners" (a broad category for those who did not adhere to the Pharisees' strict interpretation of the Law and oral traditions, including prostitutes, thieves, and others deemed morally or ritually impure) were considered ritually unclean and morally compromised. The Pharisees believed that associating with such individuals, especially in intimate table fellowship, would defile them and compromise their own carefully maintained ritual purity and righteousness before God. Their concern was rooted in their understanding of holiness as separation from sin and unholiness, a concept they believed Jesus was flagrantly violating by His inclusive actions, particularly as seen in [Luke 5:29](/luke/5-29 "Luke 5:29 - Levi's Feast").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 5:30, with its depiction of Jesus' scandalous table fellowship, profoundly reveals the heart of Christ's redemptive mission and His unique identity as the Son of God. The Pharisees' indignant question, "Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?", inadvertently highlights Jesus' divine purpose: He came not for the self-righteous, but for the lost. Unlike the Old Testament sacrificial system which required separation from sin for atonement, Jesus, as the ultimate sacrifice, enters into the very sphere of sin and brokenness to bring healing and reconciliation. He embodies the prophetic vision of the Suffering Servant who would be "numbered with the transgressors" ([Isaiah 53:12](/isaiah/53-12 "Isaiah 53:12 - Numbered with Transgressors")) to bear their iniquity. His willingness to eat with sinners signifies His mission to save His people from their sins ([Matthew 1:21](/matthew/1-21 "Matthew 1:21 - Jesus Saves His People from Their Sins")) and demonstrates God's profound love for humanity "while we were still sinners" ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love for Us")). Jesus, being without sin, could enter the world of sinners not to be defiled, but to cleanse and transform. His actions here foreshadow His ultimate act of identification with humanity's sin on the cross, bridging the chasm between a holy God and a sinful people, thus fulfilling God's eternal plan for salvation.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 15:1

¶ Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

Luke 15:2

And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

Mark 7:3

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash [their] hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

Acts 23:9

And there arose a great cry: and the scribes [that were] of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

Isaiah 65:5

Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These [are] a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

Luke 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.

Luke 7:29

And all the people that heard [him], and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.