The Pharisees, who were teachers of religious law, regarded Jesus eating with sinners as him accepting them as friends (Luke 15:1–2; 19:5, 7; Acts 11:2–18; Galatians 2:11–12). Jesus showed that these tax collectors and sinners were welcome in the kingdom of God.
In his ministry, Jesus invited both Jews and Gentiles to share in the kingdom of God (Mark 5:1–20; 7:24–30; compare Matthew 8:5–13; Luke 7:1–10; John 4:43–54).