Breakdown of Mark 2:15-17

"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. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners an…" — This wasn't just a meal; it was a strategic move by Matthew, who, right after being called, hosted Jesus and invited his own crowd of "publicans and sinners." The phrase "for there were many who foll…

Mark 2:15-17 Meaning Explained

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Mark 2:15-17

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. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

English Standard Version (ESV)

This wasn't just a meal; it was a strategic move by Matthew, who, right after being called, hosted Jesus and invited his own crowd of "publicans and sinners." The phrase "for there were many who followed him" hints that this gathering was also filled with people drawn to Jesus' magnetic presence, not just to Matthew's party.

What Mark 2:15-17 means

Fresh off calling Matthew (also known as Levi), Jesus is now at his house for a meal. Many tax collectors and other "sinners" – people considered outcasts by religious society – are there, reclining with Jesus and his disciples, because a large crowd is following Jesus and drawn to his message.

A Table Set for the Marginalized

Imagine the scene: a room buzzing with the chatter of society's outcasts. Jesus isn't just tolerating them; He's sharing a meal. What does this radical inclusion tell us about God's heart?

This meal wasn't just a casual gathering; it was a deliberate act of love and inclusion. Jesus, by reclining at the table in Matthew's (Levi's) house, was embracing people that the religious elite of the day shunned. These were 'tax collectors and sinners'—individuals often viewed as outcasts, collaborators with the Roman oppressors, and practitioners of immoral lifestyles.

Radical Hospitality

Matthew, newly called, throws a banquet. It's not just for his new friends but also for his old crowd. Jesus doesn't hesitate; He dives right in. This shows us that God's love isn't reserved for the 'good' or the 'righteous.' It's extended to everyone, especially those who feel far from Him. This dinner party is a microcosm of Jesus' entire ministry: reaching out to the lost and the broken.

Why 'Following' Matters

The verse mentions 'many who followed him.' Who are these followers, and what does their presence signify in this scene?

The phrase 'for there were many who followed him' is key to understanding the dynamic of this meal. It explains why these particular individuals were present and receptive to Jesus.

More Than Just an Invitation

While Matthew invited his friends, the text suggests that many were there not just out of obligation but because they were genuinely drawn to Jesus. They were disciples, or potential disciples, who had already begun to follow Him. This following wasn't passive; it meant listening to His teachings, observing His actions, and being impacted by His message of hope and forgiveness.

A Magnet for the Needy

Jesus was a magnet for those who recognized their need for Him. The 'sinners' and 'tax collectors' weren't necessarily all hardened rebels; some were likely people feeling the weight of their sin and the emptiness of their lives, sensing in Jesus a path to something better. Their following Him, even before this meal, shows their openness to His call for repentance and a new way of living.

Understand the original words

Original language

tax collectorsτελώνης

telōnēs · Greek Noun

Those who collected taxes for the Roman government. They were despised by the Jewish populace as traitors to their nation and extortioners who grew rich through dishonest gain.

sinnersἁμαρτωλός

hamartōlos · Greek Noun/Adjective

A general term for those who lived outside the constraints of the Law of Moses or were known for public, immoral behavior. To the religious elite, these were the social and spiritual outcasts of Israel.

disciplesμαθητής

mathētēs · Greek Noun

The state of being a student or adherent of a teacher. Biblically, a disciple is one who learns from and lives according to the ways of their master, having their life fundamentally shaped by that relationship.

scribesγραμματεύς

grammateus · Greek Noun

Historical context

Written: Around 60-62 AD.
Author: Traditionally attributed to John Mark, a close companion of both Peter and Paul. Some scholars suggest it reflects Peter's preaching.
Location: Written from Rome, likely during Nero's persecution of Christians.
Genre: Gospel narrative, a biographical account characterized by its fast-paced action and vivid descriptions.

Historical background

This event highlights Jesus' radical inclusion of society's outcasts, directly challenging the rigid social and religious boundaries of his day and provoking the criticism of the religious elite.

c. 27 AD— this verse
Jesus Calls Matthew (Levi)
Jesus encounters Matthew, a tax collector in Capernaum, and calls him to be a disciple. Matthew immediately leaves his lucrative but despised profession to follow Jesus.
c. 27 AD
Matthew's Great Banquet
To celebrate and give thanks for his calling, Matthew hosts a large banquet in his home, inviting Jesus, his disciples, and many of his former associates, including tax collectors and other 'sinners.'
c. 27 AD
Pharisaic Opposition Begins
Religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees and scribes, observe Jesus dining with tax collectors and sinners and begin to question and criticize him and his disciples.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
Following the banquet, Jesus continues his ministry throughout Galilee, teaching, healing, and gathering a large following, including many from marginalized groups.

Key themes

01Jesus' radical inclusion
02The call of sinners
03Divine grace extended
04New life in following

Cross-references

Luke 5:29

This passage directly parallels Mark 2:15, describing Levi (Matthew) making a great banquet for Jesus, highlighting the same gracious inclusion of tax collectors and sinners in Jesus's company.

Matthew 9:10-13

Matthew's own account of this event includes Jesus's famous response to the Pharisees' criticism, 'I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners,' which profoundly explains the divine purpose behind Jesus dining with these marginalized people.

1 Samuel 16:7

This verse, where God tells Samuel 'Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart,' provides a foundational principle for understanding why Jesus was willing to engage with those the world deemed sinful, looking beyond their outward actions to their potential for transformation.

2 Corinthians 5:20

This verse shows Paul acting as an 'ambassador for Christ,' urging reconciliation with God, which echoes Jesus's own ministry of drawing in those on the fringes and offering them a path to renewed relationship with God.

Isaiah 53:4-6

This prophecy of the Suffering Servant paints a picture of one who bore our iniquities and interceded for transgressors, illuminating the sacrificial love that motivated Jesus to associate with sinners, seeing them as the very reason for his mission.

Scholarly commentary

Mark 2:15: "And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him."

See Poole on "Mark 2:15"
poole

Mark 2:15: "And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him."

His houseLevi's. See Luke 5:29.
vincent

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Original language

tax collectorsτελώνης

telōnēs · Greek Noun

Those who collected taxes for the Roman government. They were despised by the Jewish populace as traitors to their nation and extortioners who grew rich through dishonest gain.

sinnersἁμαρτωλός

hamartōlos · Greek Noun/Adjective

disciplesμαθητής

mathētēs · Greek Noun

scribesγραμματεύς

grammateus · Greek Noun

Historical context

Written: Around 60-62 AD.
Author: Traditionally attributed to John Mark, a close companion of both Peter and Paul. Some scholars suggest it reflects Peter's preaching.
Location: Written from Rome, likely during Nero's persecution of Christians.
Genre: Gospel narrative, a biographical account characterized by its fast-paced action and vivid descriptions.

Historical background

This event highlights Jesus' radical inclusion of society's outcasts, directly challenging the rigid social and religious boundaries of his day and provoking the criticism of the religious elite.

c. 27 AD— this verse

Jesus Calls Matthew (Levi)

Jesus encounters Matthew, a tax collector in Capernaum, and calls him to be a disciple. Matthew immediately leaves his lucrative but despised profession to follow Jesus.

c. 27 AD

Matthew's Great Banquet

To celebrate and give thanks for his calling, Matthew hosts a large banquet in his home, inviting Jesus, his disciples, and many of his former associates, including tax collectors and other 'sinners.'