Why Does Jesus Eat with Publicans and Sinners? Matthew 9:11

Matthew the apostle shared, “And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew,

sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. 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.” In chapter nine and verse eleven of his book, Matthew shared how, “why eats your Master with publicans and sinners?” where we read:

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples,

Why eats your Master with publicans and sinners?

The verse reads, “And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and when” or “at the time and moment” “the Pharisees” which refers to “A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to OT books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life. They sought for distinction and praise by outward observance of external rites and by outward forms of piety, and such as ceremonial washings, fasting, prayers, and alms giving; and, comparatively negligent of genuine piety, they prided themselves on their fancied good work ” “saw it” or “perceived, noticed, discerned and discovered that Jesus was eating with these wicked people”, “they said” which means “the Pharisees uttered, declared and proclaim” “unto his disciples” which refers to “toward Jesus' attendants, students and pupils”. Matthew shared how the religious group known as the “Pharisees” noticed that Jesus was eating with “Publicans and sinners” and asked Jesus' disciples the following question.

The verse goes on to say, “... Why eats your Master with publicans and sinners?” Matthew continued with the word, “why” or “for what reason and cause” “eats your Master” which means “does the disciple's teacher concerning the things of God, and the duties of man” “with publicans” or “alongside tax collectors or gatherers of taxes” “and sinners” which refers to “people who were especially wicked, heathen and stained with certain definite vices or crimes”? Matthew shared how the Pharisees asked Jesus' disciples why Jesus would “eat” with the “tax collectors” and “wicked heathens”.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how these religious ones known as the “Pharisees” not only noticed that Jesus was eating with “tax collectors” and “wicked people”, but also “asked” Jesus' disciples why He was doing so. “Tax collectors” were hated by the Jewish people because they were usually Jews who were excising taxes for the Roman government, and any monies collected over and above the required amount charged by the Roman government they were able to keep. People who were “wicked heathens” were also rejected by the Jews, and yet, Jesus is reclining and dining with both of these people groups. Jesus Christ came into the world to “save sinners”, and He desires to be with everyone who will receive Him as “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus said, “they that be whole need not a physician”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.