Luke 15:2
New International Version
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

New Living Translation
This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!

English Standard Version
And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Berean Standard Bible
So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Berean Literal Bible
And both the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

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

New King James Version
And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”

New American Standard Bible
And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to complain, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

NASB 1995
Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

NASB 1977
And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And both the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Amplified Bible
Both the Pharisees and the scribes began muttering and complaining, saying, “This man accepts and welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Christian Standard Bible
And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!”

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

Contemporary English Version
So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, "This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them."

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But the Pharisees and the scribes complained, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Good News Translation
the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law started grumbling, "This man welcomes outcasts and even eats with them!"

International Standard Version
But the Pharisees and the scribes kept complaining, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Majority Standard Bible
So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

NET Bible
But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

New Heart English Bible
The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

Weymouth New Testament
and this led the Pharisees and the Scribes indignantly to complain, saying, "He gives a welcome to notorious sinners, and joins them at their meals!"

World English Bible
The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the Pharisees and the scribes were murmuring, saying, “This One receives sinners, and eats with them.”

Berean Literal Bible
And both the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

Young's Literal Translation
and the Pharisees and the scribes were murmuring, saying -- This one doth receive sinners, and doth eat with them.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, That this receives the sinful, and eats together with them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This one accepts sinners and eats with them.”

New American Bible
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

New Revised Standard Version
And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the scribes and Pharisees murmured, saying, He receives even the sinners and eats with them.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the Scribes and Pharisees were complaining and they were saying, “This one receives sinners, and he eats with them.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receives sinners, and eats with them.

Godbey New Testament
And the Pharisees and scribes were murmuring, saying, that, He receives sinners, and eats with them.

Haweis New Testament
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man entertains sinners, and eateth with them.

Mace New Testament
at which the Pharisees and Scribes murmured, saying, this man gives access to men of bad character, and eats with them.

Weymouth New Testament
and this led the Pharisees and the Scribes indignantly to complain, saying, "He gives a welcome to notorious sinners, and joins them at their meals!"

Worrell New Testament
And both the scribes and the Pharisees were murmuring, saying, "This Man receiveth sinners and eateth with them!"

Worsley New Testament
And the pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man entertaineth wicked persons, and eateth with them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus. 2So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3Then Jesus told them this parable:…

Cross References
Matthew 9:11
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Mark 2:16
When the scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Matthew 11:19
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”

Luke 5:30
But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Matthew 21:31-32
Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. / For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Acts 11:3
and said, “You visited uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

Galatians 2:12
For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group.

Romans 14:3
The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him.

1 Corinthians 5:9-11
I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. / I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. / But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

1 Corinthians 9:22
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

Ezekiel 34:2
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock?

Ezekiel 34:11-12
For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out. / As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.

Isaiah 53:12
Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

Hosea 6:6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?


Treasury of Scripture

And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners, and eats with them.

Luke 15:29,30
And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: …

Luke 5:30
But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

Luke 7:34,39
The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! …

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Luke 15
1. The parable of the lost sheep;
8. of the piece of silver;
11. of the prodigal son.














So the Pharisees and scribes
The Pharisees and scribes were influential Jewish religious leaders during the time of Jesus. The Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the oral traditions. The scribes were experts in the Law, often serving as teachers and interpreters. Their role was crucial in maintaining the religious and legal standards of Jewish society. Historically, these groups held significant power and were often seen as the gatekeepers of religious orthodoxy. Their presence in this verse sets the stage for a confrontation between the established religious order and the radical inclusivity of Jesus' ministry.

began to grumble
The Greek word used here is "διαγογγύζω" (diagogguzō), which conveys a sense of murmuring or complaining in a low tone. This grumbling reflects a deep-seated discontent and disapproval. In the context of the Gospels, such grumbling often signifies a resistance to Jesus' teachings and actions, which challenged the status quo. The Pharisees and scribes' grumbling is indicative of their inability to comprehend the grace and mercy that Jesus extended to those considered unworthy by societal standards.

This man
The phrase "This man" is used here somewhat derogatorily, emphasizing the Pharisees and scribes' disdain for Jesus. It reflects their skepticism and lack of recognition of His divine authority. In the broader narrative of the Gospels, Jesus is often referred to in ways that highlight His humanity, yet His actions and teachings reveal His divine nature. This duality is central to understanding the mystery of the Incarnation, where Jesus is both fully God and fully man.

welcomes sinners
The Greek word for "welcomes" is "προσδέχομαι" (prosdechomai), which means to receive favorably or to accept. Jesus' welcoming of sinners was revolutionary, as it broke the social and religious barriers of His time. Sinners, in this context, refer to those who were marginalized and ostracized by the religious elite due to their perceived moral and spiritual failings. Jesus' acceptance of them underscores the core message of the Gospel: that God's love and grace are available to all, regardless of their past.

and eats with them
In the ancient Near Eastern culture, sharing a meal was a sign of fellowship and acceptance. Eating with someone signified a level of intimacy and relationship. By eating with sinners, Jesus was not only breaking social norms but also demonstrating the inclusive nature of God's kingdom. This act of eating with sinners is a powerful symbol of the reconciliation and restoration that Jesus offers. It challenges believers to reflect on their own attitudes towards those whom society deems unworthy and to embody the same grace and hospitality that Jesus exemplified.

(2) And the Pharisees and scribes . . .--Here, too, we may well believe that the speakers were some of the guests of Luke 14:15. They had followed Him to see what He would do, and were at once startled and shocked to find the Teacher who had spoken so sternly to those who were professedly godly, not only talking to, but eating with, those who were, at any rate, regarded as ungodly and sinful.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
So
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
οἵ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Pharisees
Φαρισαῖοι (Pharisaioi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5330: Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

scribes
γραμματεῖς (grammateis)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1122: From gramma. A writer, i.e. scribe or secretary.

began to grumble:
διεγόγγυζον (diegongyzon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1234: To murmur greatly, continue murmuring. From dia and gogguzo; to complain throughout a crowd.

“This [man]
Οὗτος (Houtos)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

welcomes
προσδέχεται (prosdechetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4327: From pros and dechomai; to admit (figuratively) endurance); by implication, to await.

sinners
ἁμαρτωλοὺς (hamartōlous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 268: Sinning, sinful, depraved, detestable. From hamartano; sinful, i.e. A sinner.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

eats with
συνεσθίει (synesthiei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4906: To eat with. From sun and esthio; to take food in company with.

them.”
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Gospels: Luke 15:2 The Pharisees and the scribes murmured saying (Luke Lu Lk)
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