Luke 5 30

Luke 5:30 kjv

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

Luke 5:30 nkjv

And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"

Luke 5:30 niv

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"

Luke 5:30 esv

And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"

Luke 5:30 nlt

But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus' disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with such scum? "

Luke 5 verses

Luke 5 30 meaning

Luke 5:30 depicts a scene where the religious leaders, specifically the scribes and Pharisees, voice their disapproval and discontent with Jesus and His disciples. They are observed eating and fellowshipping with tax collectors and others classified as "sinners." Their complaint reflects a profound misunderstanding of Jesus' mission, as their rigid interpretation of holiness separated them from those considered unclean or morally deviant, while Jesus intentionally sought out and associated with such individuals.

Luke 5 30 Context

This verse appears immediately after the calling of Levi (Matthew), a tax collector, by Jesus in Luke 5:27-28. Levi then holds a great feast in his house for Jesus, inviting many other tax collectors and various "sinners" (Luke 5:29). This meal is a social event signifying fellowship and acceptance. The scribes and Pharisees, observers of these events, question Jesus' disciples with their indignant inquiry. Historically, tax collectors (telōnai) were despised Jews who collected taxes for the Roman occupiers, often exploiting their own people and viewed as traitors and ceremonially unclean due to constant interaction with Gentiles. "Sinners" (hamartōloi) in this context refers not merely to individuals who commit sins (as all do), but to a distinct social class considered unrighteous or morally depraved by the religious elite, often including those who did not adhere strictly to Jewish law or ritual purity, like prostitutes, swindlers, or common people not careful with ritual washings. The Pharisees (Pharisaios - "separated ones") strictly observed ceremonial purity and segregated themselves from "sinners" to maintain their perceived holiness, hence their offense at Jesus' radical inclusivity.

Luke 5 30 Word analysis

• And: Connects the previous event (Levi's feast) to the scribes' and Pharisees' reaction, showing this event was the catalyst.
• the scribes (Greek: γραμματεῖς - grammateis): Refers to professional interpreters and teachers of the Jewish Law, often associated with the Pharisees or Sadducees. They held significant influence and were guardians of tradition.
• and the Pharisees (Greek: Φαρισαῖοι - Pharisaios): A prominent religious and political sect in Judaism known for their strict adherence to the Mosaic Law and oral tradition, believing in a meticulous separation from impurity. They sought to apply priestly purity standards to all of life.
• grumbled (Greek: ἐγογγύζον - egongyzon): This verb suggests an audible, discontented murmur, indicating disapproval and opposition. It carries an onomatopoeic quality, like a low rumbling. In the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), this same word often describes the Israelites' grumbling against God in the wilderness (e.g., Exod 16, Num 14). This parallels the religious leaders' rejection of divine truth, reminiscent of Israel's rebelliousness.
• at His disciples: The grumbling is directed at the disciples first, likely as a passive-aggressive way to challenge Jesus, or because the disciples were directly involved in the act of eating.
• saying: Introduces their direct accusatory question.
• "Why do you eat and drink": This question implies disapproval of the social fellowship inherent in sharing a meal. Eating and drinking together was a profound act of acceptance and solidarity in ancient Jewish culture. It was understood as entering into communion. The leaders believed such intimate association with "sinners" would defile the "righteous" and compromise their purity.
• "with tax collectors" (Greek: τελώναι - telōnai): Jewish agents employed by the Roman Empire to collect taxes, custom duties, and tolls. They were generally considered collaborators with the occupying power, extortionists, and thus socially ostracized and ceremonially unclean by the devout.
• "and sinners" (Greek: ἁμαρτωλοί - hamartōloi): In this context, it refers not to those who occasionally stumble morally, but to a distinct social group perceived as irreligious, contemptible, or notorious offenders against God's law by the religious establishment. This included a variety of marginalized individuals such as prostitutes, bandits, or even simply the am ha'aretz (people of the land) who were ignorant or lax in observing the Mosaic Law.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "the scribes and the Pharisees grumbled": This highlights the collective, institutional opposition from the established religious authority. Their grumbling signifies not merely curiosity, but deep-seated spiritual and theological disagreement, coupled with disdain for Jesus' method and message. It’s an act of judgment from a self-perceived position of superiority.
• "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?": This rhetorical question reveals their core concern: ritual purity and social stratification. To them, fellowship with such people was tantamount to endorsing their sinful lifestyles and thus defiling oneself. They saw Jesus as undermining the very boundaries that defined their identity and piety.

Luke 5 30 Bonus section

The grumbling of the scribes and Pharisees echoes a deep theological and spiritual issue found throughout the Bible: human resistance to God's expansive grace. Just as the Israelites grumbled in the wilderness against God's provision and guidance, so too these leaders grumbled against Jesus, the embodiment of God's redemptive presence. This "grumbling" highlights their spiritual blindness; they saw Jesus as breaking purity laws, while He was demonstrating the true heart of God's law, which is mercy and the seeking of the lost. This also sets the precedent for the broader narrative of Jesus' rejection by the religious elite, culminating in His crucifixion. Their obsession with external purity and perceived righteousness prevented them from recognizing the true Physician and Savior.

Luke 5 30 Commentary

Luke 5:30 encapsulates the fundamental conflict between Jesus' mission of grace and the rigid legalism of the Jewish religious leadership. The scribes and Pharisees, operating from a theology that prioritized separation from "unclean" elements to maintain holiness, were appalled by Jesus' free association with those deemed outcasts. For them, shared meals were tokens of communal acceptance, and dining with tax collectors and "sinners" compromised ritual purity and potentially condoned their actions. However, Jesus' actions were not an endorsement of sin but an intentional engagement with the lost. He exemplified God's heart for repentance and restoration. His dining with such individuals was a visible manifestation of His kingdom-inaugurating presence, extending an offer of inclusion and a call to new life. This encounter sets the stage for Jesus' subsequent radical teaching that He came not for the healthy, but for the sick; not for the righteous, but for sinners who need repentance (Lk 5:31-32). It challenged their notions of holiness and righteousness, shifting focus from external purity and social boundaries to inner spiritual transformation. For us today, it teaches that true Christian witness involves engaging with all people, particularly those on the margins, without compromising biblical truth but with a posture of love and an invitation to repentance and life in Christ.