¹⁵ And as he sat at dinner^[a] in Levi’s^[b] house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting^[c] with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. ¹⁶ When the scribes of^[d] the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat^[e] with tax collectors and sinners?”^{(A) 17} When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick; I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.”^(B)

The Question about Fasting

¹⁸ Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and people^[f] came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”