Matius 9:10-14

9:10 As ¹  Jesus ²  was having a meal ³  in Matthew’s ⁴  house, many tax collectors ⁵  and sinners came and ate with Jesus and his disciples. 9:11 When the Pharisees ⁶  saw this they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ⁷  9:12 When ⁸  Jesus heard this he said, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. ⁹  9:13 Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ ¹⁰  For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The Superiority of the New

9:14 Then John’s ¹¹  disciples came to Jesus ¹²  and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees ¹³  fast often, ¹⁴  but your disciples don’t fast?”

¹ tn Grk “And it happened that while.” The introductory phrase καὶ ἐγένετο (kai egeneto, “it happened that”) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

² tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

³ tn Grk “was reclining at table.”

sn As Jesus was having a meal. 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.

⁴ tn Grk “in the house.” The Greek article is used here in a context that implies possession, and the referent of the implied possessive pronoun (Matthew) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵ sn See the note on tax collectors in 5:46.

⁶ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

⁷ sn The issue here is inappropriate associations. Jews were very careful about personal associations and contact as a matter of ritual cleanliness. Their question borders on an accusation that Jesus is ritually unclean.

⁸ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

⁹ sn Jesus’ point is that he associates with those who are sick because they have the need and will respond to the offer of help. A person who is healthy (or who thinks mistakenly that he is) will not seek treatment.

¹⁰ sn A quotation from Hos 6:6 (see also Matt 12:7).

¹¹ sn John refers to John the Baptist.

¹² tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

¹³ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

¹⁴ sn John’s disciples and the Pharisees followed typical practices with regard to fasting and prayer. Many Jews fasted regularly (Lev 16:29-34; 23:26-32; Num 29:7-11). The zealous fasted twice a week on Monday and Thursday.