What Does the Bible Say About Eating With Sinners?

Mark 2:1-28 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” ...

Mark 2:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Mark 2:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.

Matthew 9:10-13 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Luke 15:1-32 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ...

Mark 2:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

Mark 2:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 11:19 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

Matthew 9:10 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.

Luke 15:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Luke 7:36-50 ESV / 3 helpful votes

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” ...

Mark 2:22 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

Mark 2:19 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

Matthew 16:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

John 16:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.

John 3:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:1-36 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ...

John 1:29 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Luke 19:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Luke 19:2-10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. ...

Luke 7:34 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

Luke 5:33-39 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. ...

Luke 5:30 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Luke 5:1-39 ESV / 2 helpful votes

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” ...

Mark 2:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes

No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made.

Mark 2:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

Mark 2:15-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. ...

Mark 2:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

Mark 2:13-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 23:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

Matthew 10:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;

Matthew 9:14-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

Matthew 9:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

Matthew 9:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Matthew 9:9-13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 9:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

Isaiah 40:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;

Proverbs 22:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Ruth 1:1-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. ...

Genesis 1:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

44 Bible Verses about Eating With Sinners

Mark 2:1-28 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 2:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 2:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 9:10-13 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:1-32 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 2:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 2:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 11:19 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 9:10 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 7:36-50 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 2:22 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 2:19 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 16:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 2:1-4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 16:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:1-36 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 1:29 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 19:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 19:2-10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 7:34 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 5:33-39 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 5:30 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 5:1-39 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 2:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 2:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 2:15-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 2:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 2:13-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 10:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 9:14-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 9:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 9:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 9:9-13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 9:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 40:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 22:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ruth 1:1-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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