Luke 15:1Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.
The setting
Galilee or Judea, ~30 AD. Tax collectors and notorious sinners crowding around Jesus to hear him teach. Modern Israel/Palestine.
The emotion here: carefully observing this remarkable scene of outcasts drawn to Jesus
The original word
hamartōlos (ἁμαρτωλός) — sinners, people living openly immoral lives by religious standards
Why it matters
Tax collectors were considered traitors, working for Rome and often extorting extra money
Read with care
What most readers miss in Luke 15:1
This sets up the three lost parables - Jesus is about to defend why He welcomes outcasts
Common misconceptionPeople think these were 'seeking sinners,' but they were likely curious about this rabbi who didn't condemn them - most had probably given up on religion.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Luke 15:1
Bible Genome reading
Luke 15:1 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Luke 15:1 comes from the book of Luke, written during the gospel period. These words are attributed to Luke. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 60% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include acceptance, seeking. Notable phrases: tax collectors and sinners; coming close to him.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same seeking
“Pray without ceasing.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
— Amos 5:24
“Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that …”
— Genesis 18:25
“Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don't know.”
— Jeremiah 33:3
“Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evi…”
— Luke 11:4
Your reflection
What does Luke 15:1 mean to you, today?
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