Pharisees and Scribes Murmuring - Luke 15:2

The beloved physician Luke wrote, “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.”, and in chapter fifteen and verse two of his book Luke wrote how, “Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners” where we read:

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

The verse reads, “And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, ...” Luke began with the words, “And the Pharisees” or “and the men belonging to the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life” “and scribes” which means “and learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings and served as interpreters and teachers” “murmured” or “indignantly complained”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the following words. Luke shared how the religious leaders known as “Pharisees” and “scribes” observed the “publicans” and “sinners” gathering around Jesus and proclaimed the following words.

The verse continues, “... This man receives sinners, and eats with them.” Luke added the words, “this man receives sinners” or “this male human being, Jesus, admits, accepts and allows”, “and eats with them” which means “and consumes and devours alongside the publicans and sinners”. Luke shared how the “religious leaders” “indignantly complained” because Jesus accepted “sinners” and actually “ate” with them.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn what the “religious community” thought about “publicans and sinners” gathering themselves to Jesus. Rather than seeing this as an opportunity for them to be “saved”, the “religious ones” only criticized and complained. Because Jesus “ate” with them, in their culture, He was identifying and becoming “one” with them. This was “reprehensible” to the “religious leaders” who were onlookers, and they castigated Jesus for it. God loves people, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross so when they believe in Him, He will forgive their sins regardless of how reprehensible they are. Those who are wise will consider, regardless of how wicked they may be, that Jesus wants them to “come to Him” and allow Him to make them “one” with Himself.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus begins to speak, “another parable unto them”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".