Matthew 9:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.

NIV: While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.

NASB: Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and began dining with Jesus and His disciples.

CSB: While he was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples.

NLT: Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.

KJV: And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

NKJV: Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.

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.

Matthew 9:9–13 begins with Jesus calling Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him as His disciple. Soon, Jesus and His disciples are having dinner in Matthew's home with many tax collectors and others labelled as "sinners." In answer to a question from the Pharisees about why Jesus would eat with these people, He responds that the sick need a doctor, not the healthy. He tells the Pharisees to go learn the meaning of the Scripture in which God says that He desires mercy, not sacrifice. Jesus declares that He has come to call sinners, not the righteous.

Matthew 9 continues to show how Jesus authenticated His claims to be the Messiah by powerful miracles of healing and casting out demons. He heals a paralyzed man after telling the man his sins are forgiven. He calls Matthew to follow Him and eats dinner with Matthew and other tax collectors. He answers questions from Pharisees and others. A woman who touches His cloak is healed from a 12–year illness, and Jesus raises a dead girl back to life. He restores sight to blind men and speech to one who is demon oppressed. He is filled with compassion for the crowds.

Matthew 9 follows the same pattern of Matthew 8, showing through miraculous works of healing that Jesus is truly the Messiah. Christ forgives the sins of a paralyzed man and heals him. He calls Matthew to follow Him and eats with tax collectors and sinners. A woman is healed by touching His garment and a dead girl is given life by the touch of His hand. Two blind men see, and Jesus casts out a demon, restoring speech to its victim. Finally, Jesus declares that the harvest is plentiful and tells His followers to pray for workers. Chapter 10 builds on this compassion as Jesus commissions the Twelve to go and deliver His gospel to the people.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.