Matthew 9:11
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)
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The Pharisees didn't just ask Jesus directly because they were too afraid of his obvious wisdom, but also because they thought they could sow doubt in his disciples by questioning his associations. This reveals their strategy: not to understand Jesus, but to trip up his followers by appealing to their potentially ingrained notions of purity.
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Why were tax collectors and 'sinners' considered so lowly? Discover the deep social and religious reasons the Pharisees were so outraged by Jesus's table companions.
A Social Stain
In Jesus's day, tax collectors (or 'publicans') were deeply despised by their own people. They worked for the Roman occupiers, collecting taxes that were seen as a sign of foreign oppression. Because they often had to be ruthless to meet quotas, they were frequently associated with dishonesty, greed, and corruption.
Branded as 'Sinners'
This profession automatically branded them as 'sinners' in the eyes of the religious elite like the Pharisees. It wasn't just about their job; it was assumed they were living outside God's favor and the Mosaic Law. For the Pharisees, who prided themselves on their strict adherence to religious purity, associating with such people was unthinkable and seen as a contamination.
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This is why the question wasn't just about who Jesus was eating with, but a judgment on his own perceived righteousness. By sharing a meal, he was seen as condoning their lifestyle and blurring the lines between the 'holy' and the 'profane'.
Why did Jesus choose to dine with the outcasts? Explore the radical purpose behind his meals and what it revealed about God's kingdom.
Fellowship as a Sign
For the Pharisees, meals were sacred spaces, meant for the righteous to maintain their purity. To eat with 'sinners' was to violate religious law. But Jesus turned this upside down. His meals weren't about maintaining his own purity; they were about extending God's kingdom and demonstrating His love.
The Doctor's Call
Jesus himself explained his mission in terms of healing: 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick' (Matthew 9:12). He wasn't associating with sinners because he approved of their sin, but because he came to call them to repentance and offer them the healing only he could provide.
His table fellowship was a powerful, visible sign that God’s grace is available to everyone, especially those who know they are spiritually sick and in need of a Savior.
The Pharisees saw Jesus's actions as a major offense. But was their judgment missing the point entirely?
A Matter of Perspective
The Pharisees' question stems from a place of self-righteousness and separation. They saw themselves as 'clean' and others as 'unclean,' and Jesus's actions threatened their carefully constructed religious boundaries. They were focused on who should be invited to the table, based on human standards of merit.
God's Grace is Wider
Jesus, however, operated with a divine perspective. He wasn't concerned with maintaining social or religious distinctions in the same way. His mission was to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Eating with tax collectors and sinners wasn't a sign of Jesus's impurity, but a powerful demonstration of God's boundless grace and His desire to draw all people to Himself.
The Pharisees' criticism reveals a heart that fails to grasp the depth of human need and the expansive nature of God's love.
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.
The Pharisees' outrage stems from their rigid adherence to purity laws and their deep contempt for tax collectors, whom they viewed as both corrupt and ritually unclean collaborators with Rome. Jesus' action of sharing a meal with them was a radical act of inclusion that directly confronted their exclusive worldview.
c. 2nd century BC - 1st century AD
Pharisaic Purity Laws Flourish
The Pharisees developed a strict interpretation of Jewish law, emphasizing ritual purity. This included stringent rules about who they could associate with, especially concerning eating with those considered 'unclean' or irreligious.
1st century AD
Roman Tax Collection System
Judea was under Roman rule, and tax collectors (publicans) were employed to extract taxes. These individuals were often corrupt and seen as collaborators with the Romans, making them social outcasts and deeply despised by many Jews.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus' Ministry Begins in Galilee
Jesus commenced his public ministry, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples. His unconventional approach and association with marginalized people began to draw attention and criticism.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus Eats with Matthew the Tax Collector
Jesus attends a banquet hosted by Matthew, a former tax collector, in his home. This meal includes many other tax collectors and 'sinners,' directly challenging the social and religious norms of the day.
c. AD 30
Pharisees Question Jesus' Disciples
Observing Jesus dining with tax collectors and sinners, the Pharisees approach Jesus' disciples to question his behavior, implying he is associating with the unacceptable.
This passage directly echoes the Pharisees' criticism, showing their consistent disapproval of Jesus associating with 'sinners,' and highlights Jesus' own perspective on why he seeks them out.
Luke 19:7This verse reveals a similar reaction from another tax collector, Zacchaeus, and his community upon seeing Jesus dining with them, underscoring the deeply ingrained societal prejudice against such company.
1 Corinthians 9:22Paul's statement about becoming 'all things to all people' offers a parallel principle to Jesus' actions, suggesting a deliberate strategy to reach those on the fringes of society, even if it meant associating with those considered 'sinners'.
Galatians 2:10This passage speaks to the 'apostle to the Gentiles' remembering the poor, which, by extension, can be seen as a call to show compassion and reach out to those who are spiritually impoverished, much like Jesus did with tax collectors and sinners.
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 didn't just ask Jesus directly because they were too afraid of his obvious wisdom, but also because they thought they could sow doubt in his disciples by questioning his associations. This reveals their strategy: not to understand Jesus, but to trip up his followers by appealing to their potentially ingrained notions of purity.
{ "references": [ { "reference": "Luke 5:29-32", "connection": "This passage directly parallels Matthew's account, showing the same event from Luke's perspective and highlighting Jesus' response about the sick needing a doctor, directly addressing the Pharisees' criticism." }, { "reference": "Matthew 11:19", "connection": "Jesus directly addresses the Pharisees' criticism of His association with sinners here, stating that 'wisdom is justified by her deeds,' implying His actions with tax collectors and sinners demonstrate His divine wisdom and purpose." }, { "reference": "1 Corinthians 9:22", "connection": "The Apostle Paul echoes Jesus' heart for reaching all kinds of people by stating he has 'become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some,' mirroring Jesus' willingness to associate with those considered 'sinners' to bring them salvation." }, { "reference": "Luke 15:1-2", "connection": "These verses show the reason for the Pharisees' grumbling – they 'grumbled' because Jesus 'received sinners and ate with them.' This passage explicitly states their disapproval, which Matthew's Gospel then records Jesus addressing." } ] }
{ "references": [ { "reference": "Luke 5:29-32", "connection": "This passage directly parallels Matthew's account, showing the same event from Luke's perspective and highlighting Jesus' response about the sick needing a doctor, directly addressing the Pharisees' criticism." }, { "reference": "Matthew 11:19", "connection": "Jesus directly addresses the Pharisees' criticism of His association with sinners here, stating that 'wisdom is justified by her deeds,' implying His actions with tax collectors and sinners demonstrate His divine wisdom and purpose." }, { "reference": "1 Corinthians 9:22", "connection": "The Apostle Paul echoes Jesus' heart for reaching all kinds of people by stating he has 'become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some,' mirroring Jesus' willingness to associate with those considered 'sinners' to bring them salvation." }, { "reference": "Luke 15:1-2", "connection": "These verses show the reason for the Pharisees' grumbling – they 'grumbled' because Jesus 'received sinners and ate with them.' This passage explicitly states their disapproval, which Matthew's Gospel then records Jesus addressing." } ] }
"And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”" — The Pharisees didn't just ask Jesus directly because they were too afraid of his obvious wisdom, but also because they thought they could sow doubt in his disciples by questioning his associations. T…
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