John Calvin Commentary Luke 19:7

"And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, He is gone in to lodge with a man that is a sinner." — Luke 19:7 (ASV)

And when they saw it, they all murmured. The inhabitants of the town—and, perhaps, some of Christ’s followers—murmur that he goes to lodge with a man who is viewed as wicked and infamous, even though nobody invited him.

This is how the world disregards the offer of God’s grace, yet complains bitterly⁶⁷⁸ when it is conveyed to others.

But let us consider how unjust this murmuring was. They think it unreasonable that Christ should bestow so great an honor on a wicked man; for in this passage, as in many others, the word sinner is not taken in the ordinary sense⁶⁷⁹ but denotes a man of disgraceful and scandalous life.

Let us suppose that Zaccheus was a person of this description. Still, we ought first to inquire for what purpose Christ chose to become his guest; for, while men are murmuring out of doors, within the house God magnificently displays the glory of His name and refutes their wicked slander.

The conversion of Zaccheus was an astonishing work of God, and yet there was no good reason why Zaccheus should be marked with infamy. He had the responsibility of collecting the taxes. Now, collecting taxes was not a crime in itself, but men of that class were exceedingly despised and hated by the Jews, because they reckoned it to be in the highest degree unjust that they should pay tribute.

But whatever the character of Zaccheus might have been, Christ’s kindness still ought not to be blamed, but commended, for not refusing His assistance to a wretched man to rescue him from destruction and bring him to salvation.

Therefore, the offense that was wickedly taken did not hinder Him from proceeding to carry out His Father’s command.

All His ministers ought to be endowed with such magnanimity as to think more highly of the salvation of one soul than the murmurs that all ignorant persons may utter, and not to desist from their duty, even though all their actions and words may expose them to reproaches.

⁶⁷⁸ “Et cependant est envieux et marri;” — “and yet is envious and offended.”;” — “and yet is envious and offended.”

⁶⁷⁹ “Et ne signifie pas ce que communeement nous appelons pecheur;” — “and does not mean what we usually call ” — “and does not mean what we usually call a sinner..”