Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
All the tax collectors and people with messy lives started gathering around Jesus because they actually wanted to hear what he had to say.
The people everyone else wrote off were the ones showing up to listen to Jesus.
📚 Historical Context
In first-century Judea under Roman rule, publicans were Jewish tax collectors viewed as traitors and sinners because they worked for the occupying forces, often enriching themselves at the expense of their own people. Sinners referred to those considered morally impure or socially outcast by religious leaders, such as prostitutes or the poor who couldn't adhere to strict Jewish laws. This verse introduces a key moment in Jesus' ministry where he attracted these marginalized groups, setting the stage for his parables on God's mercy and redemption.
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