What does Matthew 9:10 mean?
For the first time in this writing, Matthew has introduced himself (Matthew 9:9). He described the moment when Jesus said to him, "Follow me" while Matthew was sitting at his tax collector's booth. Jewish tax collectors were among the most despised people in Israel. They collected taxes for the oppressive, Gentile, occupying Romans and often took money for themselves while they were doing it. Such men were thought of as immoral traitors by the Jewish people.After being officially added to Jesus' group of disciples, Matthew hosted Jesus and the disciples for dinner at his house, along with his other friends. Describing the same event, both Mark (Mark 2:15–17) and Luke (Luke 5:29–32) make clear this was Matthew's house. They also describe Matthew's friends as being tax collectors and "sinners." All were reclining together with Jesus and the other disciples around Matthew's table.
"Sinners," as used in this context, is a broad term describing people who broke the moral codes of Jewish society. This would have included tax collectors, harlots, and others. The Pharisees will show in the following verse that they did not approve of Jesus' dining companions.