How Does Jesus Eat with Publicans and Sinners? - Mark 2:16

Mark wrote concerning Jesus, “as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him”, and in chapter two and verse sixteen of his book, Mark shares what happened when the “scribes and Pharisees” saw Jesus, “eat with publicans and sinners” where we read:

And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eats and drinks with publicans and sinners?

The verse reads, “And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, ...” Mark began with the words, “and when” which means “and at the time and moment” “the scribes” or “the men who were learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings and were interpreters and teachers” “and Pharisees” which means “the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life” “saw him eat” or “observed and noticed Jesus consuming food and eating a meal” “with publicans” which refers to “tax gatherers and collectors who were Jews that were employed by the Roman government” “and sinners” or “and people who were devoted to sin, especially wicked, with certain vices or crimes and heathen”. Mark shared how the “religious leaders” known as the “scribes and Pharisees” observed Jesus eating with the “tax collectors” and “people devoted to sin”.

The verse continues, “... they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eats and drinks with publicans and sinners?” Mark added the words, “they said” which means “the scribes and Pharisees uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto his disciples” or “to Jesus' students, pupils and attendants”, “how is it that he eats” or “in what way and for what reason does Jesus consume food” “and drinks” which means “and imbibe drink” “with publicans” or “alongside and beside tax gatherers and collectors who were Jews that were employed by the Roman government” “and sinners” which refers to “people who were devoted to sin, especially wicked, with certain vices or crimes and heathen”. Mark shared how the “religious leaders” questioned Jesus' disciples concerning Jesus “eating and drinking” with the “tax collectors” and “sinful people”.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how the “religious leaders” were not only observing Jesus again, but they were also questioning His method of ministry. Jesus was able to get along with people in the world to such a degree they would invite Him to their home to eat, and like with “Levi”, Jesus enjoys the fellowship of people regardless of their state in life. Jesus' purpose for coming was to “save” people from their “sins”, and because He reached out to those who were despised by others, “scribes and Pharisees” questioned and were critical of Him. All who read these word should examine themselves and discover whether they are “disciples” of Jesus, potential “disciples” of Jesus or like the “religious leaders”, critics of Jesus.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus says, “they that are whole have no need of the 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. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".