Luke 15:1 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. Publicans and sinners - Τελωναι και ἁμαρτωλοι, tax-gatherers and heathens; persons who neither believed in Christ nor in Moses. See the note on Luke 7:36. Concerning the tax-gatherers, see the note on Matthew 5:46.