07_Biblica_2_AM_B_Kilgallen_Layout 1 30/01/13 13:17 Pagina 590 07_B Was Jesus Right to Eat with Sinners and Tax Collectors? According to Luke, the accusations brought to Pilate to justify Rome’s putting Jesus to death were three: claiming to be Messiah or King, refusing to have people pay taxes to Rome, and inciting the people to revolution (23,2). What apparently moved the Sanhedrin earlier to bring Jesus to Pilate for judgment centered on two points: Jesus’ refusal to deny that he is Mes- siah of Israel and Son of God (22,67-71). From a complete reading of the Gospel one knows of lesser criticisms of Jesus, such as his apparent disre- spect of the Sabbath. One fault of Jesus is the subject of this essay. This is the fault of associating with and eating with sinners and tax-collectors 1. To give fair understanding to Jesus’ critics in this matter, usually but not always Pharisees, it is best to begin by recalling the intentions of these critics 2. Pharisees, and those like them, had an intense desire to obey the Law of Moses as it had been handed down to them with all of its accre- tions. The history of the Pharisees bears witness to their attempts at per- fection, with suffering martyrdom the surest sign of their intense devotion to Yahweh. Given their appreciation and desire for perfection, one finds it easy to understand their wanting this perfection in all Jews, for to this perfect obedience all Israel was called. Indeed, many of Israel, imperfect as they were in their own lives, esteemed the Pharisees greatly and respected their practices and teachings. Even the criticism of Jesus towards the Pharisees does no harm to the lofty ideals they espoused and urged others to embrace as well 3. If the Pharisees held other Israelites in lesser esteem, it was only as a confirmation of their impatience with sins and sinners against the Law. “This aspect of Jesus’ ministry has been admirably surveyed in a brief 1 monograph by O. Hofius (Jesu Tischgemeinschaft mit den Sündern [Stuttgart 1967]) who claims that the table fellowship of Jesus with such people was a sign of the extension of God’s forgiveness to them and at the same time an anticipation of the eschatological meal in the kingdom of God”, I.H. MAR- SHALL, Luke. Historian and Theologian (Downers Grove, IL 1998) 138. “On the one hand, the religious authorities (particularly Pharisees) are 2 ‘respectful of Jesus and afford him the honor due a ‘teacher’, which is the term by which they address him … Pharisees … are attracted to Jesus coming from all over to hear him teach (5,17)”, J.D. KINGSBURY, Conflict in Luke. Jesus, Authorities, Disciples (Minneapolis, MN 1991) 26. Cf. Josephus, Anitquities, XVIII.1: “The cities give great attestations to 3 them [Pharisees] on account of their entire virtuous conduct, both in the actions of their lives and their discourses also”. Cf. also Against Apion 2:232-234: “Now, as for ourselves [not only Pharisees, but surely Pharisees included], I venture to say, that no one can tell of so many; nay, not of more than one or two that have BIBLICA 93.4 (2012) 590-600 © Gregorian Biblical Press 2012 - Tutti i diritti riservati