When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Parallel translations
- WEB When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
- KJV And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
- NKJV And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
- NASB And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?”
- NLT But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Pharisees object that Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners. Their complaint reveals a self-righteousness blind to mercy.
Overview
The Pharisees, prizing ceremonial separation, are scandalized that Jesus would share a meal with the impure. Their question exposes a religion of exclusion rather than compassion. It sets the stage for Jesus to explain that he came precisely for such people, overturning their assumptions about righteousness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 11:19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”
- Luke 5:30But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
- Luke 15:1–2Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.
- Mark 2:16When the scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
- 1 Cor 5:9–11I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.
- Gal 2:15We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners”
- Heb 5:2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness.
- Luke 19:7And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!”
- Isa 65:5They say, ‘Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ Such people are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long.
- 2 Jn 1:10If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him.
- Mark 9:14–16When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 9:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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