It's comforting to moderns to think this way --- that "The only sinners Jesus seemed to reject were the ones who thought there were not sinners i.e. the ones who followed the rules aka the Pharisees."  Comforting, because moderns don't like following rules.  They don't like being told what to do.  "Rules" are often disparaged on this progressive site, because it is thought that NO ONE has the right to bind us, and rules bind.  Indeed, here, respecting God's rules marks you as Pharisaic.  So out with the rules, and let's all just be compassionate, and we'll all get to heaven.  Compassion is essential, but that's not all that Jesus or Scripture demanded.  He said, "If you love me, keep my commandments" --- obey my rules.  "Conform your actions to my Divine will."  Too authoritarian for a lot of progressives.