Note 5 at Lk. 19:7: As mentioned in note 23 at Matthew 5:46, page 79, publicans were hated by their fellow Jews. They were especially despised by the religious Jews as the epitome of sinners and Jews' religious laws prevented devout Jews from keeping company with any publican. To eat with a publican was unthinkable as the Jews considered this actually partaking of the publican's sins. This is why the people reacted so adversely to Jesus eating with Zacchaeus.

However, Jesus did not eat at Zacchaeus' house to participate in his sin but to extend mercy and forgiveness to him. This is always the criterion whereby we can judge whether or not we should be involved in a certain situation. We must not participate in other men's sins, as can be clearly seen by the warning in 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, but the Lord doesn't want us to retreat to monasteries either. We are the salt of the earth (Mt. 5:13), and to do any good, we have to get out of the "salt shaker."

If we can be in control and minister the love of God, then we are right to associate with sinners. But when we are being controlled by the ungodliness of sinners, we need to take control or withdraw. Paul went into the Jewish synagogues to share the gospel (Acts 9:20; 13:5,14-47; 14:1; 17:1-4,10,17; 18:4,19; 19:8) because they allowed anyone to speak up and comment on the scriptures. But when the leaders of the synagogue hardened themselves against the gospel and directly contradicted Paul's preaching, he separated the disciples from the doubt and unbelief (Acts 19:8-9).