Cultural Insights ~Luke 15.1-3 ~ Answers
Gleaned from Kenneth Bailey by Lee Magness
Cultural Insights into Luke 15.1-3
1) Who cares that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem?
Insight ~ Jerusalem was the center of religious and political authority.
2) Why were the Pharisees and scribes so quick to criticize Jesus and Jesus to confront them.
Insight ~ Pharisees and scribes were the most law-abiding Jews in Jesus' day but they were also the most
legalistic. They were extremely religious but extremely ritualistic. They tended to associate only with people
like them, fellow students of the law.
3) What did they mean by the term "sinners"?
Insight ~ They looked down on the "people of the earth," the common people, manual laborers, peasants,
subsistence farmers, because they did not--often could not--keep the minute requirements of the law
regarding personal cleanliness, food preparation, tithing, etc. Pharisees avoided contact even with their
clothing.
4) Why did they associate tax collectors with "sinners"?
Insight ~ They were Jews who...
a) Religious offense -- ...worked for unclean Gentiles,
b) Political offense -- ...served the Romans (their oppressors),
c) Economic offense -- ...took money from people on the brink of poverty, often committed graft and fraud,
d) Socio-cultural offense -- ...were in contact with aliens (non-Jews)
5) What was so wrong with "receiving" those people?
Insight ~ It is a strong term meaning more than greet, implying welcoming into intimate fellowship and accepting
as a friend.
6) Who cares that Jesus was "eating" with them?
Insight ~ Sharing a meal was the supreme act of social acceptance in that culture. Pharisees wouldn't think of
eating with unclean peasants.
7) What did they mean by "sinners"?
Insight ~ They were considered sinners religiously (ritually unclean), legally (violators of the law), morally
(persons of low moral character), and politically (traitors to their people).
1) Who cares that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem?
Insight ~ Jerusalem was the center of religious and political authority.
2) Why were the Pharisees and scribes so quick to criticize Jesus and Jesus to confront them.
Insight ~ Pharisees and scribes were the most law-abiding Jews in Jesus' day but they were also the most
legalistic. They were extremely religious but extremely ritualistic. They tended to associate only with people
like them, fellow students of the law.
3) What did they mean by the term "sinners"?
Insight ~ They looked down on the "people of the earth," the common people, manual laborers, peasants,
subsistence farmers, because they did not--often could not--keep the minute requirements of the law
regarding personal cleanliness, food preparation, tithing, etc. Pharisees avoided contact even with their
clothing.
4) Why did they associate tax collectors with "sinners"?
Insight ~ They were Jews who...
a) Religious offense -- ...worked for unclean Gentiles,
b) Political offense -- ...served the Romans (their oppressors),
c) Economic offense -- ...took money from people on the brink of poverty, often committed graft and fraud,
d) Socio-cultural offense -- ...were in contact with aliens (non-Jews)
5) What was so wrong with "receiving" those people?
Insight ~ It is a strong term meaning more than greet, implying welcoming into intimate fellowship and accepting
as a friend.
6) Who cares that Jesus was "eating" with them?
Insight ~ Sharing a meal was the supreme act of social acceptance in that culture. Pharisees wouldn't think of
eating with unclean peasants.
7) What did they mean by "sinners"?
Insight ~ They were considered sinners religiously (ritually unclean), legally (violators of the law), morally
(persons of low moral character), and politically (traitors to their people).
