And when the scribes and the Pharisees saw that He was eating with tax collectors and sinners, they were saying to His disciples, “Why does He eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
This question reveals the closedness of the Pharisees’ hearts. They saw Christ’s closeness toward sinners, but they did not understand its saving purpose. For them, outward separation was a sign of righteousness, whereas for Christ true holiness was shown not by keeping away from the sinner, but by the mercy that heals him and brings him back to God. They question the disciples because often people who do not dare to address the truth directly criticize it in an indirect way. This episode teaches that a person can outwardly strive for righteousness yet remain far from God if he does not have love and mercy, while the one who sees his sinful condition and comes for help draws near to Christ.