Bible Strands
Luke 19:7
And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The surrounding crowd voices its objection immediately after Zacchaeus joyfully welcomes Jesus down from the sycamore tree, directing their complaint at Jesus for associating with the tax collector.
The words — The Greek διεγόνγγυζον (diegonguzon) literally means “were grumbling” or muttering in complaint, while ἁμαρτωλῷ (hamartōlō) denotes “a sinful [man]” or social outcast. These terms record the crowd’s vocal disapproval of Jesus’ choice to dine with Zacchaeus.
The thread — This exact accusation appears in Luke 15:2, where Pharisees and scribes grumble that Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them. Parallel criticism surfaces in Luke 7:34 regarding His fellowship with tax collectors and in Luke 7:39 regarding a Pharisee’s silent judgment.
Why it lands — The text forces the reader to confront the social cost of divine association, as the crowd’s reaction marks the boundary Jesus crosses to reach an outcast. It requires a clear-eyed assessment of whether one prioritizes religious reputation over the reality of grace.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
Cross-references
- Luke 15:2 So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
- Luke 7:34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’
- Luke 7:39 When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”
- Matthew 9:11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
- Luke 18:9 To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable:
- Luke 5:30 But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
- Matthew 21:28 But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’