Luke 15:1

1 Now the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners were everywhere in the habit of coming close to Him to listen to Him;

Luke 15:1 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 15:1

Then drew near to him
To "Jesus", as the Persic and Ethiopic versions express it: this was on the sabbath day, and either when he was in the Pharisee's house, where he was invited to dinner, ( Luke 14:1 ) or rather when he came out of it, when the multitude, who could not come near him whilst there, took the opportunity of gathering about him;

even all the publicans and sinners;
whom the Pharisee would not admit into his house, it being contrary to their traditions to eat, and drink, and converse with persons of such an infamous character; (See Gill on Matthew 9:10) (See Gill on Matthew 9:11) The word "all" is omitted in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions; but the Arabic version has it, and the Greek copies; and signifies that there were a very large number of them, even all that were in that place, and in the adjacent cities and towns, that got together

for to hear him,
or "from him", as the Arabic version; or "doctrine" from him, as the Persic version adds: these having heard much of him; and it may be, might be under some remorse of conscience on account of their vicious lives, came to hear him preach.

Luke 15:1 In-Context

1 Now the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners were everywhere in the habit of coming close to Him to listen to Him;

2 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!"

3 So in figurative language He asked them,

4 "Which of you men, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in their pasture and go in search of the lost one till he finds it?

5 And when he has found it, he lifts it on his shoulder, glad at heart.