| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the coordinating conjunction kai {καὶ | kaí} linking to the previous narrative. The imperfect verb diegongyzon {διεγόγγυζον | di-e-góg-guzon} conveys continuous murmurings. The correlative construction hoi te Pharisaioi kai hoi grammateis {οἵ τε Φαρισαῖοι καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς | hoî te Pharisaîoi kaí hoî grammateîs} groups religious opponents with an emphatic “both…and.” The participle legontes {λέγοντες | lé-gon-tes} introduces their spoken objection. The demonstrative houtos {Οὗτος | hoû-tos} foregrounds “this man” with slight derision. The accusative hamartolous {ἁμαρτωλοὺς | ha-mar-tō-lous} marks sinners as the direct object of prosdechetai {προσδέχεται | pros-dé-khe-tai}, a middle-voice verb highlighting personal reception. The coordinated verbs prosdechetai kai synesthiei {προσδέχεται καὶ συνεσθίει | pros-dé-khe-tai kaí sy-nes-thí-ei} form a vivid portrayal of ongoing hospitality, with the dative autois {αὐτοῖς | au-toîs} specifying the beneficiaries of “eating with.” |