Question: Why do you think Christ's disciples were people society ignored, despised or were offended by? Why weren't they people society already respected and viewed as righteous?

I think the answer to that is simple. Those who society has lifted up and elevated to a certain status, earnings potential etc, do not usually want to jeapordize that. Those who are outcasts aren't generally beholden to society anyway. If the prevailing views were what Yeshua was attempting to come against why would he chose to enlist the champions of said views to assist him in changing them?

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I'll bite.. ...this one's ez
assuming the above stated premise is valid. My response would hafta put things in a certain basic context
A context supported by specific BELIEFS of my own.

1) that THE CREATOR is just that... The One Who creates EVERYTHING; meaning everything seen & unseen...which includes but is not limited to the doings, the acts, the circumstances, the responses, the reactions, etc that occur within & throughout the creation.

2) THE CREATOR's Will... when THE CREATOR Wills something to occur or not to occur that's pretty much it. Throughout history when people were ignored, despised, thought to be offensive, etc... this too was/are manifestations of THE CREATOR's Will... the things THE CREATOR Willed to happen

As I stated; my belief is THE CREATOR created everything... known AND unknown; righteousness & evil...THE CREATOR bestows as He pleases. I believe this; I also believe a "safe" conduct is provided; a CRITERIA (rules) so to speak
This Criteria or set of Life Rules is for patiently conducting one's life, this life; managing one's affairs which when done w/ good intentions ultimately lead to the Best. This Criteria isn't dependant on the whims or the prevailing "mood" or philosophical outlook of the society...why?
Because, these are of the created things which are subject and are known to change...This again and always is based on what THE CREATOR Willed for the creation.

The Provided Criteria does NOT change...One either gets with the program or they don't; moreover ultimate Judgement of Success or Failure doesn't fall to the society; it belongs to THE CREATOR.. My understanding of the Righteous (the truly wisest of men & women) is that they let the people say what they say; knowing or having a belief that the opinions...be it praise, condemnation or all that's in between holds no consequence in terms of their GOAL. A goal obtained by performing well within the guidelines of this Life's Criteria having an ending acceptable to their LORD, The CREATOR.

and

The Creator Knows Best
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my answer: because they were humble enough to actually see jesus and therefore they could hear his lessons to learn from them.