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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Luke 15:2 - 15:2
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Both ... and (te ... kai). United in the complaint.
Murmured (diegogguzon). Imperfect active of diagogguzō, late Greek compound in the lxx and Byzantine writers. In the N.T. only here and Luk 19:7. The force of dia here is probably between or among themselves. It spread (imperfect tense) whenever these two classes came in contact with Jesus. As the publicans and the sinners were drawing near to Jesus just in that proportion the Pharisees and the scribes increased their murmurings. The social breach is here an open yawning chasm.
This man (houtos). A contemptuous sneer in the use of the pronoun. They spoke out openly and probably pointed at Jesus.
Receiveth (prosdechetai). Present middle indicative of the common verb prosdechomai. In Luk 12:36 we had it for expecting, here it is to give access to oneself, to welcome like hupedexato of Martha’s welcome to Jesus (Luk 10:38). The charge here is that this is the habit of Jesus. He shows no sense of social superiority to these outcasts (like the Hindu “untouchables” in India).
And eateth with them (kai sunesthiei autois). Associative instrumental case (autois) after sun- in composition. This is an old charge (Luk 5:30) and a much more serious breach from the standpoint of the Pharisees. The implication is that Jesus prefers these outcasts to the respectable classes (the Pharisees and the scribes) because he is like them in character and tastes, even with the harlots. There was a sting in the charge that he was the “friend” (philos) of publicans and sinners (Luk 7:34).