Luke 15:1 Meaning and Explanation
“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The very people religion had pushed to the edges came crowding toward Jesus, drawn by the welcome they found in Him.
The Context of Luke 15:1
This verse opens Luke 15, the chapter of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. The Pharisees and scribes murmur that Jesus receives sinners and eats with them (verse 2), and in answer Jesus tells these three parables of seeking and rejoicing.
What Does Luke 15:1 Mean?
Notice who is moving toward Jesus: the publicans, tax collectors despised as traitors and cheats, and the 'sinners,' those whose lives were openly outside the rules, the very people the respectable and the careful kept at a distance. They 'drew near,' crowding in close, coming 'for to hear him.' Something about Jesus made the people most others avoided feel they could come closer. He held the truth high, and still sinners found in Him a welcome they had found nowhere else. They came because they sensed they would not be turned away.
The next verse shows the contrast: the religious leaders grumble that this man 'receiveth sinners, and eateth with them' (verse 2). What scandalized them is the very heart of the gospel. Jesus answers with three stories of things lost and found, ending with a father running to embrace a returning son. This is who He is, the One who came to seek and save the lost, glad to be surrounded by people who knew they needed Him. The door He opened then is open still.
Luke 15:1 in the Original Language
telones (τελώνης), 'publicans' -- tax collectors for Rome, widely scorned as traitors and extortioners.
How to Apply Luke 15:1 Today
Whatever has kept us at a distance, Jesus is the kind of person sinners felt safe drawing near to. We do not have to clean ourselves up before we come; we come to hear Him, and He receives us. The same welcome that drew the outcasts then is held out to each of us now.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 15:1
What does Luke 15:1 mean?
The very people religion had pushed to the edges came crowding toward Jesus, drawn by the welcome they found in Him.
What is the context of Luke 15:1?
This verse opens Luke 15, the chapter of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. The Pharisees and scribes murmur that Jesus receives sinners and eats with them (verse 2), and in answer Jesus tells these three parables of seeking and rejoicing.
How can I apply Luke 15:1 today?
Whatever has kept us at a distance, Jesus is the kind of person sinners felt safe drawing near to. We do not have to clean ourselves up before we come; we come to hear Him, and He receives us. The same welcome that drew the outcasts then is held out to each of us now.