And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Pharisees' question isn't just about Jesus's dining habits; it reveals their deep-seated belief that associating with "sinners" like tax collectors would make Him ritually unclean, just as it would make them unclean. They saw fellowship as contamination, a stark contrast to Jesus's mission to seek and save the lost.
And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is at a feast hosted by Matthew, a former tax collector, and many other "tax collectors and sinners" are present. The Pharisees, who meticulously observe religious law and consider themselves righteous, are scandalized by Jesus's company, seeing it as a violation of purity and a sign of his own unrighteousness. They approach Jesus's disciples with this accusation, rather than confronting Jesus directly, in order to subtly question his authority and standing.
The Pharisees are stunned by Jesus' choice of company. What did sharing a meal signify to them, and why was it so scandalous for Jesus to dine with certain people?
In ancient Jewish culture, sharing a meal was far more than just nourishment; it was a profound declaration of fellowship and acceptance.
The Weight of the Table
The Pharisees confront Jesus' disciples, not Jesus directly. What does this indirect approach reveal about their intentions and their view of Jesus?
Ask a follow-up
The way the Pharisees approached Jesus' disciples reveals a strategic, perhaps even cowardly, tactic aimed at undermining Jesus.
A Strategy of Distrust
Why would Jesus deliberately associate with people the religious elite shunned? What was the purpose behind his 'scandalous' meals?
Jesus’ actions at Matthew’s house weren't a disregard for holiness, but a radical demonstration of his mission: to seek and save the lost.
Grace at the Table
Understand the original words
Pharisaioi · Greek Noun
A religious and political party in first-century Judaism known for their strict adherence to the oral and written Law and their separation from those they deemed impure.
telōnai · Greek Noun
Individuals tasked by the Roman Empire to collect taxes from the Jewish populace; they were deeply despised by their fellow Jews, often viewed as traitors and ceremonially unclean due to their frequent contact with Gentiles.
hamartōlos · Greek Noun/Adjective
Individuals who fail to conform to the standards of the Law of Moses or social moral codes; in a biblical context, it refers to all humanity, though it specifically identifies those openly living in rebellion against God's standards.
c. 1st century AD
Pharisaic Purity Laws
The Pharisees followed strict interpretations of Jewish law, emphasizing ritual purity. This included rules about who could be touched, what could be eaten, and with whom one could associate, creating social and religious divisions.
c. 1st century AD
Tax Collectors' Infamy
Tax collectors (publicans) worked for the Roman occupiers, often seen as collaborators and oppressors. They were widely despised, considered ritually unclean, and often associated with sinners and dishonesty.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, gathering disciples and teaching about the Kingdom of God. His inclusive approach and association with marginalized people begin to draw attention and criticism.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus Eats with Tax Collector Matthew
Jesus accepts an invitation to dine at the home of Matthew, a tax collector. This meal, attended by other tax collectors and 'sinners,' becomes a focal point of controversy with the religious elite.
This passage directly parallels the situation, highlighting Jesus' acceptance of 'sinners' and the Pharisees' grumbling, showing it's a recurring theme of his ministry.
1 Corinthians 15:9Paul's description of himself as the 'least of the apostles' and 'unfit to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God' echoes the idea of Jesus associating with those considered 'undesirable' by religious elites.
Galatians 2:11-14This shows a time when Peter, and even Barnabas, were swayed by the pressure of those from James, indicating a broader tension within the early church about associating with Gentiles, which mirrors the Pharisees' judgment of Jesus.
Matthew 11:19Jesus directly addresses this criticism by stating that 'wisdom is proved right by her actions,' essentially defending his association with tax collectors and sinners as evidence of his mission.
barnesMatthew 9:11: "And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?"
Why eateth and drinketh ... - To eat and drink with others denotes intimacy and familiarity. The Pharisees, by asking this question, accused him of seeking the society of such people, and of being the companion of the wicked. The inference which they would draw was, that he could not be himself righteous, since he delighted in the company of abandoned people.
cambridgeMatthew 9:11: "And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?"
11 . when the Pharisees saw it ] The Pharisees were not guests, but came into the house,—a custom still prevalent in the East. A traveller writes from Damietta, “In the room where we were received, besides the divan on which we sat, there were seats all round the walls. Many came in and took their place on those side-seats, uninvited and yet unchallenged. They spoke to…
The Pharisees' question isn't just about Jesus's dining habits; it reveals their deep-seated belief that associating with "sinners" like tax collectors would make Him ritually unclean, just as it would make them unclean. They saw fellowship as contamination, a stark contrast to Jesus's mission to seek and save the lost.
Jesus is at a feast hosted by Matthew, a former tax collector, and many other "tax collectors and sinners" are present. The Pharisees, who meticulously observe religious law and consider themselves righteous, are scandalized by Jesus's company, seeing it as a violation of purity and a sign of his own unrighteousness. They approach Jesus's disciples with this accusation, rather than confronting Jesus directly, in order to subtly question his authority and standing.
Jesus is at a feast hosted by Matthew, a former tax collector, and many other "tax collectors and sinners" are present. The Pharisees, who meticulously observe religious law and consider themselves righteous, are scandalized by Jesus's company, seeing it as a violation of purity and a sign of his own unrighteousness. They approach Jesus's disciples with this accusation, rather than confronting Jesus directly, in order to subtly question his authority and standing.
"And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”" — The Pharisees' question isn't just about Jesus's dining habits; it reveals their deep-seated belief that associating with "sinners" like tax collectors would make Him ritually unclean, just as it wou…
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Last reviewed October 2026