Jesus had often been seen in the company of "sinners"
He selected a tax collector to be one of His disciples, and did not hesitate to dine with other tax collectors - Lk 5:27-29. Sinners would often linger around Him, to the consternation of the religious elite - Lk 7:36-39. Once again, this practice of Jesus associating with sinners brings a charge against Him. In response to this "murmuring" by the Pharisees and scribes, Jesus now tells three parables.
