Jesus Calls Matthew and Eats with Sinners
Matthew 9:9-13
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Matt.9.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- παραγων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εκειθεν: ADV
- ειδεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ανθρωπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- καθημενον: VERB,pres,mid,part,acc,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- τελωνιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- Μαθθαιον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- λεγομενον: VERB,pres,mid-pass,part,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω·Ακολουθει: PRON,dat,sg,m+VERB,pres,act,imper,2,sg
- μοι·και: PRON,dat,sg,1+CONJ
- αναστας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ηκολουθησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 2:14 (verbal): Parallel account of the call of the tax collector (called 'Levi' here); same setting at the tax booth and immediate summons to follow Jesus.
- Luke 5:27-28 (verbal): Luke's version of the calling (uses the name 'Levi') with the same motif: Jesus calls a tax collector who gets up and follows him.
- Mark 1:16-20 (thematic): Another call narrative where Jesus invites fishermen to 'Follow me' and they immediately leave their nets — parallels the call-and-response pattern.
- Matt.10:3 (structural): Later Matthean list of the twelve that includes 'Matthew' (the tax collector), confirming his apostolic identity and linking back to the call narrative.
Alternative generated candidates
- And as Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he rose and followed him.
- And as Jesus went on from there he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he rose and followed him.
Matt.9.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ανακειμενου: PART,pres,mid/pass,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- οικια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ιδου: INTJ
- πολλοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- τελωναι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αμαρτωλοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ελθοντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- συνανεκειντο: VERB,impf,mid,ind,3,pl
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- μαθηταις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 2:15 (verbal): Direct synoptic parallel: Mark recounts Jesus reclining at table with tax collectors and sinners in the same episode (same wording and scene).
- Luke 5:29 (verbal): Parallel account (Levi’s/Simon’s feast): Luke describes a great meal hosted for Jesus where many tax collectors and others recline with him.
- Matt.9:11 (structural): Immediate Matthean follow-up: Pharisees question Jesus’ disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?'—the direct reaction to the scene in 9:10.
- Luke 15:1-2 (thematic): Thematic parallel: 'Tax collectors and sinners drawing near to Jesus' and the Pharisees’ grumbling, highlighting the social-religious tension over Jesus’ association with outcasts.
- Matt.11:19 (thematic): Broader thematic echo: Jesus is criticized for eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners (also Luke 7:34), which summarizes opposition to his ministry among religious leaders.
Alternative generated candidates
- And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.
- And as he sat at table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
Matt.9.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ιδοντες: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- Φαρισαιοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ελεγον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- μαθηταις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- αυτου·Δια: PRON,gen,sg,m
- τι: PRON,acc,sg,n
- μετα: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,f
- τελωνων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αμαρτωλων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- εσθιει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- διδασκαλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
Parallels
- Mark 2:16 (quotation): Near-verbatim parallel account: scribes/Pharisees object to Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners; same setting and complaint.
- Luke 5:30 (quotation): Directly parallels Matthew's wording—Pharisees and their scribes ask why Jesus eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners.
- Matthew 11:19 (verbal): Jesus criticized for 'eating and drinking' and thus judged morally (called a glutton and drunkard); echoes the charge implied in 9:11 about his associations and conduct.
- Luke 15:1–2 (thematic): Tax collectors and sinners draw near to Jesus and the Pharisees/teachers of the law grumble—same broader theme of social/religious opposition to Jesus' welcome of outcasts.
Alternative generated candidates
- When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?'
- When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?'
Matt.9.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ακουσας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν·Ου: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- χρειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ισχυοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- ιατρου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- αλλα: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- κακως: ADV
- εχοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Mark 2:17 (verbal): Direct synoptic parallel of the same saying: 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.' (same context and wording in Mark's account).
- Luke 5:31 (verbal): Parallel in Luke's Gospel with virtually the same wording and context (Jesus' reply to Pharisees about eating with tax collectors and sinners).
- Matt.9:13 (structural): Immediate literary continuation of 9:12 in Matthew: Jesus adds 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' linking the healing ministry to mercy as the interpretive principle for his behavior toward sinners (connects 9:12 to Old Testament law/prophecy).
- Hosea 6:6 (quotation): The Old Testament line quoted by Jesus in 9:13 ('I desire mercy, not sacrifice') — provides the prophetic scriptural basis for the attitude expressed in 9:12 toward the 'sick' (sinners) who need a physician.
- Luke 15:1-2 (thematic): Similar theme: Pharisees and scribes complain that Jesus welcomes sinners; both passages highlight Jesus' mission to seek and restore the lost rather than to consort only with the righteous.
Alternative generated candidates
- But when he heard it, he said, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.'
- But when Jesus heard it he said, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.'
Matt.9.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- πορευθεντες: VERB,aor,pass,ptc,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- μαθετε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- τι: PRON,acc,sg,n
- εστιν·Ελεος: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg + NOUN,nom,sg,n
- θελω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- και: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- θυσιαν·ου: NOUN,acc,sg,f + PART
- γαρ: PART
- ηλθον: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- καλεσαι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- δικαιους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- αλλα: CONJ
- αμαρτωλους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Hosea 6:6 (quotation): Direct source of Jesus' words — LXX reads 'ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν' ('I desire mercy, not sacrifice'), which Jesus cites verbatim.
- Mark 2:17 (verbal): Synoptic parallel to Matthew 9:13; Mark records the same saying ('I came not to call the righteous, but sinners') in virtually identical wording.
- Luke 5:32 (verbal): Luke's parallel to the calling of Levi uses the same line ('I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance'), closely matching Matthew's wording and intent.
- Matt.12:7 (quotation): Matthew repeats the Hosea citation here when Jesus reproves the Pharisees ('If you had known what this means, I desire mercy, not sacrifice'), reaffirming the Hosea quotation within the Gospel's argument.
- Matt.23:23 (thematic): Jesus criticizes religious leaders for neglecting weightier matters like justice and mercy; thematically echoes priority of mercy over mere ritual observance expressed in 9:13.
Alternative generated candidates
- Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.
- 'Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
And as Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he rose and followed him. And it came to pass, as he was reclining at table in the house, that many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?' But when Jesus heard it, he said, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.'
Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.