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!’

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses religious critics immediately after describing John the Baptist’s fasting. The text places this statement within a direct response to accusations against his lifestyle.

The words — The participles ἐσθίων (esthiōn) and πινὼν (pinōn) literally mean "eating" and "drinking." They describe the Son of Man’s concrete presence in ordinary social meals.

The thread — The charge of eating with tax collectors and sinners surfaces in Luke 15:2 and Matthew 9:11. Jesus later performs this exact act at a Pharisee’s table in Luke 7:36.

Why it lands — The text records the leaders’ literal accusation that Jesus is a glutton and drunkard. It requires readers to measure spiritual authority by actual engagement rather than by enforced separation.

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

ἐλήλυθενelēluthenHas come ὁhothe υἱὸςhuiosSon τοῦtou<the>ἀνθρώπουanthrōpouof Man ἐσθίωνesthiōneating καὶkaiand πίνων,pinōndrinking,καὶkaiand λέγετε·legeteyou say;ἰδοὺidouBehold ἄνθρωποςanthrōposa man φάγοςphagosa glutton καὶkaiand οἰνοπότης,oinopotēsa drunkard,φίλοςphilosa friend τελωνῶνtelōnōnof tax collectors καὶkaiand ἁμαρτωλῶν.hamartōlōnof sinners.

King James Version

The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

Cross-references

Luke 15:2 So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Luke 7:36 Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
Matthew 9:11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Luke 14:1 One Sabbath, Jesus went to eat in the home of a leading Pharisee, and those in attendance were watching Him closely.
Luke 19:7 And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!”
John 12:2 So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him.
Luke 5:29 Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them.
Luke 11:37 As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; so He went in and reclined at the table.
John 2:2 and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding.