Matthew 9:10-13
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
10 While he was at table in his house,[a] many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.(A) 11 The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher[b] eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.[c] 13 Go and learn the meaning of the words,(B) ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[d] I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
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- 9:10 His house: it is not clear whether his refers to Jesus or Matthew. Tax collectors: see note on Mt 5:46. Table association with such persons would cause ritual impurity.
- 9:11 Teacher: see note on Mt 8:19.
- 9:12 See note on Mk 2:17.
- 9:13 Go and learn…not sacrifice: Matthew adds the prophetic statement of Hos 6:6 to the Marcan account (see also Mt 12:7). If mercy is superior to the temple sacrifices, how much more to the laws of ritual impurity.
Mark 2:15-17
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
15 While he was at table in his house,[a] many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. 16 [b]Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 Jesus heard this and said to them [that], “Those who are well do not need a physician,[c] but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
The Question About Fasting.[d]
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- 2:15 In his house: cf. Mk 2:1; Mt 9:10. Lk 5:29 clearly calls it Levi’s house.
- 2:16–17 This and the following conflict stories reflect a similar pattern: a statement of fact, a question of protest, and a reply by Jesus.
- 2:17 Do not need a physician: this maxim of Jesus with its implied irony was uttered to silence his adversaries who objected that he ate with tax collectors and sinners (Mk 2:16). Because the scribes and Pharisees were self-righteous, they were not capable of responding to Jesus’ call to repentance and faith in the gospel.
- 2:18–22 This conflict over the question of fasting has the same pattern as Mk 2:16–17; see notes on Mt 9:15; 9:16–17.
Luke 5:29-31
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
29 (A)Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. 30 The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.
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