Luke 15:1 kjv
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
Luke 15:1 nkjv
Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.
Luke 15:1 niv
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.
Luke 15:1 esv
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.
Luke 15:1 nlt
Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.
Luke 15 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Theme: Jesus associates with Sinners/Outcasts | ||
| Lk 5:29-32 | And Levi made him a great feast in his house... Pharisees and their scribes grumbled... "Why do you eat with tax collectors and sinners?" | Jesus dines with tax collectors; His mission is for sinners. |
| Mt 9:10-13 | While He was reclining at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came... When the Pharisees saw this... | Jesus called to call sinners, not the righteous. |
| Mk 2:15-17 | Jesus was reclining at table in his house...many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples... | Jesus came for the sick, not the healthy. |
| Lk 7:34 | "The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'" | Criticism of Jesus for His inclusive company. |
| Theme: Jesus seeks the Lost | ||
| Lk 19:10 | "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." | Jesus' core mission to reclaim the estranged. |
| Ez 34:16 | "I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed..." | God's compassionate pursuit of the lost. |
| Mt 18:11-14 | "For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray.." | Parable of the lost sheep, God's desire for the lost. |
| Is 53:6 | "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way;" | Humanity's lost condition. |
| Theme: God's Mercy and Calling of Repentance | ||
| Lk 5:32 | "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." | Jesus' specific call to repentance. |
| Ac 17:30 | "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent," | Universal command to repent. |
| Is 55:7 | "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord," | God's call for the wicked to return. |
| Rm 5:8 | "but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." | God's love for humanity in their fallen state. |
| 1 Tim 1:15 | "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." | Christ's purpose is to save sinners. |
| Theme: Reception of God's Word | ||
| Mt 11:28 | "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." | Invitation to the burdened to approach Jesus. |
| Mk 4:20 | "And these are the ones sown on good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit..." | Importance of hearing and accepting the word. |
| Lk 8:15 | "As for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart..." | Those with receptive hearts embrace the word. |
| Ps 1:2 | "...his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night." | A heart that delights in God's instruction. |
| Theme: Conflict with Religious Leaders | ||
| Lk 15:2 | And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." | Direct reaction of the religious elite to Jesus' actions. |
| Mt 23:25-28 | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate... inwardly full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." | Jesus' strong rebuke of the Pharisees' hypocrisy. |
| Jn 9:40-41 | Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, "Are we also blind?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, 'We see,' your guilt remains." | The spiritual blindness of those who claim to see. |
Luke 15 verses
Luke 15 1 Meaning
Luke 15:1 sets the stage for Jesus' revolutionary parables of the lost, describing how "all the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to hear Him." This verse portrays a significant aspect of Jesus' ministry: His welcoming approach to society's outcasts and His willingness to engage with those deemed impure or irreligious by the prevailing religious establishment. It highlights the stark contrast between those who sought Jesus—the humble and marginalized—and those who criticized Him. The very presence of these individuals signals a radical shift in religious outreach and priority, demonstrating that God's grace extends beyond the conventionally righteous.
Luke 15 1 Context
Luke 15:1 initiates a pivotal section within Luke's Gospel, setting the stage for the renowned parables of the lost: the Lost Sheep (Lk 15:3-7), the Lost Coin (Lk 15:8-10), and the Lost Son (Lk 15:11-32). This verse provides the immediate social and theological context for these parables, which were not abstract teachings but direct responses to the grumbling of the Pharisees and scribes mentioned in Luke 15:2. Jesus’ consistent ministry among "tax collectors and sinners" was scandalous to the religious elite of His day. Historically and culturally, "tax collectors" (often Jewish collaborators with Roman oppressors, notorious for corruption) and "sinners" (a broad term for those who visibly disregarded the Law or were socially marginalized like prostitutes, foreigners, etc.) were ostracized by mainstream Jewish society and religious groups. Their presence "drawing near to hear Him" highlights a genuine openness to Jesus' message among those previously excluded, creating a stark dichotomy with the self-perceived righteous who distanced themselves.
Luke 15 1 Word analysis
- Now (Δέ - De): A particle often used as a connective or transitional word, indicating a slight shift or new point in the narrative. Here, it signifies the introduction of the context for the following parables.
- all (πάντες - Pantes): Emphatic and inclusive, emphasizing that a significant number or all available individuals from these groups were present. It highlights the widespread appeal of Jesus' message among these marginalized people, signifying their collective movement towards Him.
- the tax collectors (οἱ τελῶναι - hoi telōnai): These were Jews hired by the Roman authorities to collect taxes, often extorting more than required for personal profit. They were despised by their fellow Jews not only for their dishonesty but also for their collaboration with the gentile oppressors, rendering them religiously unclean and socially ostracized. They were viewed as betrayers and morally corrupt.
- and (καί - kai): A simple conjunction connecting two distinct but often overlapping categories of people.
- sinners (οἱ ἁμαρτωλοί - hoi hamartōloi): A broad term in the New Testament that can refer to various types of individuals. It designates not merely those who committed sins (which applies to everyone) but specifically those who were considered habitually unrighteous, openly violating God's Law, or those who held professions considered morally impure (e.g., prostitutes, shepherds in some rabbinic traditions). They were perceived as ritually defiled and often social outcasts by the religious authorities, embodying a lifestyle outside conventional righteousness.
- were drawing near (ἠγγίζον - ēngizon): This is in the imperfect tense, suggesting a continuous or repeated action. It means "were approaching," "were coming near," or "kept on drawing near." This indicates an active and persistent movement on their part towards Jesus, demonstrating their eagerness and receptivity to His presence and words. It’s not a passive reception, but an intentional seeking.
- to hear Him (αὐτοῦ ἀκούειν - autou akouein): This is a purpose infinitive, clearly stating their objective. They came not just to see Him, but specifically to listen to His teachings. This underscores their hunger for a spiritual message that resonated with them, likely different from what they received from traditional religious leaders. This act of "hearing" implies a readiness to learn, believe, and potentially be transformed.
Luke 15 1 Bonus section
This verse fundamentally challenges the common religious understanding of who is "worthy" of God's attention or grace. The "drawing near" highlights the initiative taken by the outcasts, signifying their spiritual hunger that was unrecognized or unaddressed by the religious institutions of the day. This stands in stark contrast to the religious elite, who often presumed their righteousness but were often spiritually blind. The radical hospitality and open arms of Jesus, exemplified by His willingness to engage with these individuals, is a pre-curser to His message about the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine, the woman who searches for the lost coin, and the father who welcomes his prodigal son. It showcases God's preferential option for the marginalized and His joy over one sinner who repents. This initial image in Luke 15 is crucial for understanding the entire chapter as an answer to the fundamental question of God’s nature concerning sinners: does He reject them, or does He actively pursue them?
Luke 15 1 Commentary
Luke 15:1 is more than a simple narrative introduction; it serves as a provocative setup for Jesus’ teachings on divine love and restoration. It paints a picture of societal paradox: those branded as irredeemable by human standards are precisely those most receptive to the truth of God’s kingdom proclaimed by Jesus. The consistent "drawing near" of tax collectors and sinners speaks to Jesus' radical accessibility and the power of His message, which offered hope and inclusion rather than condemnation and exclusion. This influx of "unworthy" listeners directly challenged the religious and social norms perpetuated by the Pharisees and scribes, forming the implicit "grumbling" context for the parables that follow. It emphasizes that Jesus did not wait for the lost to become "good enough" before extending grace; instead, His very presence invited them to encounter divine mercy and embrace repentance.