Prostitutes and tax collectors were rejectes in society though only the first sinned. Jesus brought the teaching of Hope to both. Pharisees sinned of self rightouesness and also of the conviction that they were not to pay anything to the Romans sent tax collectors. Similarly they stoned the adultresses prostitutes showing none of the mercy that Jesus brought them. They were attarcted by that merciful love that the Pharisees could not see fogged as they were by their sense of abiding by the letter selfrighousness.