Matius 9:11-14

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

The Superiority of the New

9:14 Then John’s ⁶  disciples came to Jesus ⁷  and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees ⁸  fast often, ⁹  but your disciples don’t fast?”

[9:11]  ¹ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[9:11]  ² 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.

[9:12]  ³ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[9:12]  ⁴ 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.

[9:13]  ⁵ sn A quotation from Hos 6:6 (see also Matt 12:7).

[9:14]  ⁶ sn John refers to John the Baptist.

[9:14]  ⁷ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[9:14]  ⁸ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[9:14]  ⁹ 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.