Final answer:
The Pharisees and Sadducees, Jewish religious leaders, did not favor the crowds around Jesus, disapproving of His association with tax collectors and sinners.
Step-by-step explanation:
The groups that did not appreciate the large crowds around Jesus, according to historical context and biblical accounts, were primarily the Pharisees and the Sadducees. These religious leaders of Jewish society had differing views on the application of Mosaic Law and expectations of the Messiah.
The Pharisees, keen on the strict observance of the law among all Jews, were particularly critical of Jesus's association with those they deemed sinners, as reflected in their disapproving query to Jesus's disciples in the provided text. Moreover, the Sadducees, who held that only priests needed to strictly follow the Mosaic laws, may also have been alarmed by Jesus's influence among the people and opposition to the established religious hierarchy.