Jesus describes the sinners who gather around Him as repentant sinners. What signs have they shown of being repentant? In the context of Luke 15, there are several. First, the chapter opens by saying that tax gatherers and sinners are coming near to “listen to Him” (v. 1). Hearing and obeying are of course closely linked in Scripture, and the fact that these sinners are listening to Jesus suggests that they have become obedient to Him. Against the OT background too, there is a hint of the SHEMA: Israel is to “hear” the voice of Jesus as they heard the voice of Yahweh. Second, the sinners are coming to eat and drink with Jesus. They want to be with Him, enjoy His presence, associate themselves with the table companions of Jesus. Clearly, this is a mark of discipleship, since the Pharisees and scribes reject Jesus precisely by rejecting His table companions (as the elder brother does). Finally, the larger context is that Jesus is on the road to Jerusalem, and the sinners who come to Him are following Him on that road. They are literally walking in His steps, and literally facing the threat of the cross.
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