Luk 5:30 | TNotes | STEP | 5:30 Meals were rituals of social status in the ancient world, and eating with someone meant social acceptance of that person. The Pharisees refused to eat with tax collectors and other sinners, or to enter their homes, believing that this would defile them. They expected Jesus, as a rabbi, to do the same. Jesus shattered social norms by dining with sinners and allowing sinful people to touch him (5:29 ; 7:39 ; 15:1 ). The religious leaders severely criticized him for this and derisively called him “a friend of tax collectors and other sinners” (7:34 ).

‏ Luke 5:30

5:30 ^a Meals were rituals of social status in the ancient world, and eating with someone meant social acceptance of that person. The Pharisees refused to eat with tax collectors and other sinners, or to enter their homes, believing that this would defile them. They expected Jesus, as a rabbi, to do the same. Jesus shattered social norms by dining with sinners and allowing sinful people to touch him (5:29 ^b; 7:39 ^c; 15:1 ^d). The religious leaders severely criticized him for this and derisively called him “a friend of tax collectors and other sinners” (7:34 ^e).