And the Pharisees and Scribes murmured
When they saw the easy access these wicked men had to Christ; and
that he stopped and stayed with them, and very freely imparted
instructions to them: saying,
this man receiveth sinners.
The Persic version reads, "publicans and sinners", as in the
preceding verse: the word "man" is not in the original text, it
is only "this"; which is to be understood not by way of eminence,
as this great person, this prophet, this master in Israel; but by
way of diminution and reproach, this fellow; as it is sometimes
supplied: the word "man" be very rightly inserted, for they took
him to be a mere man; though it is certain he was more than a
man, even the true and mighty God; and therefore was able to save
those sinners that came to him: and great condescension and grace
did he show in receiving them who were "sinners", not only by
nature, but by practice; and not merely guilty of common
infirmities, but were notorious sinners, covetous, extortioners,
oppressors of the poor, and very debauched persons; and such as
these Christ "receives": hence no man should be discouraged from
coming to Christ, on account of sin; all that do come to him,
should come as sinners, for he receives them as such; nor does he
receive any for any worthiness there is in them: these persons he
received first at his Father's hand, as he did all the elect, as
his portion, and to be preserved and saved by him; with all
gifts, grace, blessings, and promises for them; and in
consequence of this, he receives them upon their coming to him as
sinners, into his open love and affection, into his arms; which
denotes communion and protection; into his house and family, and
not only to hear him preach, or preached, but to converse and eat
with him at his table, and even to live by faith upon him; and
when he has freed them from all their sins, he will receive them
to himself in glory. And there is the greatest reason imaginable
to believe, that Christ still does, and will receive sinners;
since he came to save the chief of sinners; and has bore their
sins, and died for them; and now makes intercession for
transgressors; and by the ministers of the word calls sinners to
repentance.
And eateth with them;
as he did in the houses of Matthew the publican, and of Zaccheus;
see ( Matthew
9:10 ) ( Luke 14:7 ) each of which
occasioned great murmurings among the Pharisees; and who
therefore traduced him as a friend of publicans and sinners; and
he is indeed so in the best sense: and not only did he eat with
them corporeally, but in a spiritual sense, as he still does;
admitting them into his house to eat of the provisions of it, to
live on him the bread of life, to sup with him, and he with them;
and feeding and delighting himself in the exercise of those
graces, which he himself is the donor and author of, in them.