Luke 5:30 Meaning and Explanation
“But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The scribes and Pharisees complain to Jesus' disciples that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners.
What Does Luke 5:30 Mean?
The feast draws fire. Scribes and Pharisees murmur — not to Jesus directly but against his disciples — 'Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?' The objection travels secondhand, aimed at the followers but meant for their Master. In their reckoning, holiness kept its distance, and a shared table endorsed the company.
Luke's word for their complaint is the one the Greek Old Testament uses for Israel murmuring in the wilderness — grumbling against the goodness of God's provision. It is possible to stand near grace and resent where it flows. The table that scandalized the scribes is in fact the gospel in miniature: Christ seated gladly among people who know they need him.
Luke 5:30 in the Original Language
gogguzo (γογγύζω), 'murmured' -- to grumble in a low, complaining undertone.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 5:30
What does Luke 5:30 mean?
The scribes and Pharisees complain to Jesus' disciples that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners.