Now it came to pass, as He reclined [to eat] in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners, having come, were reclining [to eat] 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?"

Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.

For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; but you, having seen, did not repent afterwards, that you might believe him.

Then Levi made a great banquet for Him in his own house. And there was a great number of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them [to eat].

And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?"

And having come down with them, He stood on a level place, with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were drawing near to Him to hear Him.