And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners, and eats with them.
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners, and eats with them.
And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
And the Pharisees and scribes were angry, saying, This man gives approval to sinners, and takes food with them.
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them."
And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
Receiveth sinners - Προσδεχεται. He receives them cordially, affectionately - takes them to his bosom; for so the word implies. What mercy! Jesus receives sinners in the most loving, affectionate manner, and saves them unto eternal life! Reader, give glory to God for ever!
Murmured - They affected to suppose that if Jesus treated sinners kindly he must be fond of their society, and be a man of similar character. "They" considered it disgraceful to be with them or to eat with them, and they, therefore, brought a charge against him for it. They "would" not suppose that he admitted them to his society for the purpose of doing them good; nor did they remember that the very object of his coming was to call the wicked from their ways and to save them from death.
Receiveth sinners - Receives them in a tender manner; treats them with kindness; does not drive them from his presence.
And eateth with them - Contrary to the received maxims of the scribes. By eating with them he showed that he did not despise or overlook them.