Matthew 9:11 kjv
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
Matthew 9:11 nkjv
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
Matthew 9:11 niv
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
Matthew 9:11 esv
And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
Matthew 9:11 nlt
But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with such scum? "
Matthew 9 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 2:16 | When the scribes and Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and sinners, they asked... | Mark's parallel account |
| Lk 5:30 | The Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat... | Luke's parallel account, explicit grumbling |
| Lk 15:1-2 | Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." | General complaint, preface to parables of lost |
| Lk 7:34 | The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' | Pharisees' ongoing criticism of Jesus' lifestyle |
| Matt 9:12 | But when Jesus heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick." | Jesus' immediate defense and mission statement |
| Matt 9:13 | Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." | Jesus' core mission, quoting Hos 6:6, to Pharisees |
| Hos 6:6 | For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. | Old Testament foundation for God's desire for mercy |
| Lk 19:7 | And when they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." | Zacchaeus episode, similar criticism |
| Matt 11:19 | The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard...’ | Reiteration of charges against Jesus |
| Ps 1:1 | Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; | Pharisaic view: separation from sinners |
| Prov 13:20 | Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm. | General wisdom on company chosen |
| 1 Cor 5:9-11 | I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world... but now I am writing to you not to associate with any so-called brother who is sexually immoral... | Distinction between world's sinners and church's |
| Mk 2:15 | And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. | The immediate preceding action of dining |
| Isa 53:12 | Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great... He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. | Prophecy of Christ identifying with sinners |
| Lk 7:37-39 | And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner... The Pharisee who had invited him said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is..." | Another instance of Pharisees judging Jesus for association |
| Jn 8:7 | When they kept questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." | Jesus challenging self-righteousness concerning sinners |
| Rom 5:8 | But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. | God's love demonstrated towards sinners |
| 1 Tim 1:15 | The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. | Purpose of Jesus' advent |
| Lk 14:13-14, 21-23 | When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind... a master... told his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' | Jesus' teaching on inviting marginalized to feasts |
| Heb 4:15 | For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. | Jesus' relatable and compassionate nature |
Matthew 9 verses
Matthew 9 11 Meaning
Matthew 9:11 captures a pivotal confrontation where the self-righteous Pharisees question Jesus' disciples about their Master's association with publicans (tax collectors) and sinners. This highlights a fundamental clash between two worldviews: the legalistic piety of the Pharisees, which emphasized separation from "unclean" individuals, and Jesus' inclusive ministry, which extended grace and fellowship to the marginalized and morally compromised, underscoring His mission to call sinners to repentance. The verse exposes the Pharisees' judgmentalism and inability to comprehend divine mercy.
Matthew 9 11 Context
Matthew 9:11 is set immediately after Jesus calls Matthew (also known as Levi), a tax collector, to be His disciple (Matt 9:9). This calling itself was controversial due to Matthew's despised profession. Following this, Matthew hosts a banquet at his house, and Jesus sits at the table with many tax collectors and "sinners" (Matt 9:10). Eating together in first-century Jewish society was a profoundly intimate act, symbolizing fellowship, acceptance, and shared life. For a holy man or Rabbi, associating in such a way with individuals deemed ritually unclean and morally corrupt by society, like tax collectors (who collaborated with Roman occupiers and often extorted money) and other notorious "sinners" (those who publicly disregarded Jewish law or social norms), was highly scandalous. The Pharisees' question stems from their commitment to ceremonial purity and separation, which led them to shun such people. They perceived Jesus' actions not as an act of grace, but as a violation of religious protocol and an endorsement of unholy lifestyles, jeopardizing His own spiritual purity and teaching authority.
Matthew 9 11 Word analysis
- And: Connects this reaction to the previous event (Jesus eating at Matthew's house, Matt 9:10).
- when: Marks the timing of the observation and ensuing confrontation.
- the Pharisees: (Greek: Pharisaios - Φαρισαῖοι, meaning "separated ones"). A prominent Jewish religious and political group in Jesus' time. They were known for their strict adherence to the Mosaic Law and the elaborate oral traditions (Halakha), often going beyond the written law in their pursuit of purity and righteousness. They saw themselves as the custodians of true piety and often contrasted sharply with Jesus' interpretation of the law and His inclusive practices.
- saw it: Not just a casual glance, but an act of keen observation that led to judgment. They witnessed Jesus' shocking disregard for their social and religious norms of separation.
- they said: Signifies an open confrontation and accusation, expressing their disapproval.
- unto his disciples: The question is directed to Jesus' followers rather than directly to Jesus. This might be an attempt to indirectly undermine Jesus' authority, to test the disciples' understanding of their Master's actions, or because they saw the disciples also partaking in this "unclean" fellowship.
- Why: A challenge questioning the rationale or legitimacy of Jesus' actions from their legalistic perspective. It demands an explanation for an act they deem inappropriate for a religious leader.
- eateth: (Greek: synesthíō - συνεσθίω, to eat with, to associate intimately at a meal). This act of sharing a meal carried deep social and religious significance in ancient Jewish culture. It symbolized fellowship, acceptance, and solidarity. For the Pharisees, eating with "publicans and sinners" was unthinkable, as it would defile one and suggest approval of their unrighteousness, breaking the strictures of purity laws.
- your Master: (Greek: Didaskalos - διδάσκαλος, Teacher). The term acknowledges Jesus' role as a teacher or rabbi, but immediately questions the integrity of His teaching and practice. It carries an implicit accusation: "How can your esteemed Teacher do something so wrong?"
- with publicans: (Greek: telōnai - τελῶναι, tax collectors). These were Jewish individuals who collected taxes for the Roman authorities, often extorting more than required for personal profit. They were despised by their fellow Jews as traitors, collaborators, and unclean due to their frequent contact with Gentiles and unrighteous gain. They were considered moral and ritual outcasts, grouped with prostitutes and notorious criminals.
- and sinners: (Greek: hamartōloí - ἁμαρτωλοί, sinners). A broad term in this context for individuals who were deemed morally reprobate or who did not adhere to the rigorous standards of Jewish law as interpreted by the Pharisees. This could include the irreligious, prostitutes, the perpetually poor, and others whose professions or lifestyles placed them outside the boundaries of "righteous" society. The Pharisees maintained a strict social and religious separation from them, believing their touch or association would render one unclean.
- Word-groups/phrases:
- "And when the Pharisees saw it, they said...": Highlights the adversarial relationship. The Pharisees are presented as constant scrutinizers, quick to find fault and challenge Jesus' ministry. Their "seeing" implies an active disapproval of Jesus' inclusive practice, directly challenging the perceived norm of social and religious segregation.
- "...unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?": This entire question frames the conflict between Jesus' new paradigm of grace and inclusion versus the Pharisees' entrenched system of legalistic purity and exclusivity. It questions Jesus' very identity and purpose, revealing their misunderstanding of God's redemptive heart for the lost.
Matthew 9 11 Bonus section
The episode of Jesus dining with publicans and sinners, particularly in the immediate aftermath of calling Matthew, underscores a fundamental aspect of Jesus' ministry: He proactively reached out to those considered untouchable by the religious elite. This wasn't accidental or coerced contact, but intentional engagement and open fellowship. This action was deeply scandalous to the Pharisees because it threatened their entire system of piety built on separation and self-justification. It revealed that Jesus' kingdom was fundamentally different from the established religious order, welcoming the outcast and emphasizing the divine mercy that seeks and saves the lost. Jesus demonstrated that God's desire for human connection, repentance, and reconciliation surpassed all human-made barriers of social and religious exclusion.
Matthew 9 11 Commentary
Matthew 9:11 captures a profound theological clash at the heart of Jesus' ministry. The Pharisees, with their meticulous focus on external purity and separation, could not reconcile Jesus, a proclaimed holy man and teacher, eating with those they deemed utterly beyond the pale of religious association—publicans and notorious "sinners." To them, such fellowship signified contamination, endorsement of sin, or at the very least, a shocking lack of discernment for a religious leader. Their question, "Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?" is not a genuine inquiry but an accusation rooted in their self-righteousness and narrow understanding of God's holiness.
Jesus, however, demonstrates a radical paradigm of holiness, not found in avoiding contact with sin but in engaging it to bring healing and repentance. His presence at the table was not an endorsement of their sin but an invitation to new life. This act foreshadows the expansive nature of God's kingdom, open to all who recognize their need for a Savior, challenging the religious establishment's boundaries and definitions of who is "in" and who is "out." The core message is God's desire for mercy and transformation for those alienated from Him, over mere ritual adherence or societal separation.