SEV Biblia, Chapter 9:11
Y viendo esto los fariseos, dijeron a sus discípulos: ¿Por qu come vuestro Maestro con los publicanos y pecadores?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 9:11
Verse 11. When the Pharisees saw it] He who, like a Pharisee, never felt himself indebted to infinite mercy for his own salvation, is rarely solicitous about the salvation of others. The grace of Christ alone inspires the soul with true benevolence. The self-righteous Pharisees considered it equal to legal defilement to sit in company with tax-gatherers and heathens. It is certain that those who fear God should not associate, through choice, with the workers of iniquity, and should only be found with them when transacting their secular business requires it, or when they have the prospect of doing good to their souls.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 11. And when the Pharisees saw it , etc.] The feast Matthew made, the guests that were invited, and particularly that Christ sat down to meat with such vile and wicked company; they and the Scribes, as Mark and Luke add, who generally were together, of the same complexion, equally enemies to Christ, and watchful observers of his conduct, and pretending to a more strict and religious way of life, were offended at all this; and said to his disciples , which they chose to do, rather than to Christ himself; partly, because they were afraid to engage in a dispute with him, who had just given them a full proof of his omniscience, that he knew the very thoughts and reasonings of their minds, and had so confounded them already, both by his arguments and miracles; and partly, because they might think themselves a match for the disciples, and might hope to stumble and ensnare them, and prevail upon them to quit their profession, and leave following him, whom they would suggest could not be a good man, that was guilty of so evil an action; which, with them, was very unlawful and abhorrent, as that for which they accuse and reprove him, why eateth your master with publicans and sinners ? The publicans, or gatherers of the Roman tax, toll, or tribute of any sort, whether Jews or Gentiles, were persons of a very infamous character; and, as here, so often, in Jewish writings, are ranked with sinners, and those of the worst sort: so false swearing was allowed to be made yskwmlw ymrjlw ygrwhl , to murderers, and to robbers, and to publicans f548 ; and so publicans and thieves are joined together by Maimonides f549 , and a publican is said by him to be as a thief. And indeed this was not only the sense of the Jews, but also of other people, according to those words of Zeno the poet, pantev telwnai pantev eisin arpagev f550 , all publicans are all of them robbers: though this was not originally their character; for formerly the best of the Roman gentry were employed in this office, till by malpractices it became scandalous, when the meaner sort of people, yea, even vassals, were put into it f551 . Now, with such sort of men as these the Pharisees held it unlawful to have any sort of conversation; they expelled such their society, would not dwell with them in the same house, nor eat or drink with them; concerning which, their rules and methods are these; a companion, or friend, who becomes the kings collector, or a publican, or the like, they drive him from society with them: if he abstains from his evil works, then he is as any other man f552 . Again, when the kings collectors enter into a house to dwell, all that are in the house are defiled f553 .
Moreover, it is said, that the former saints ate their common food with purity, i.e. with their hands washed, and took care of all defilements every day; and these were called Pharisees; and this sect was exceedingly holy, and was the way of piety; for such a man was separated, and he abstained from the rest of the people, and he did not touch them, hm[ htyw lkay alw , nor did he eat and drink with them.
It was a general rule with them, that a clean person ought not to eat with an unclean, as they judged the common people to be; nay, that a Pharisee, who was unclean himself, might not eat with another person that was so, and which they boast of, as a great degree of holiness. Come and see, (say they f555 ,) to what a pitch purity has arrived in Israel; for they not only teach, that a pure person may not eat with one that is defiled, but that one that has a gonorrhoea may not eat with another that has one, lest he should be used to transgress this way; and a Pharisee that has a gonorrhoea may not eat with a common person that has one, lest he should be used to do so.
Hence they looked upon Christ and his disciples as such, and would insinuate that they were evil men, who had no regard to purity of life and conversation.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 10-13 - Some time after his call, Matthew sought to bring his old associates to hear Christ. He knew by experience what the grace of Christ could do and would not despair concerning them. Those who are effectuall brought to Christ, cannot but desire that others also may be brought to him. Those who suppose their souls to be without disease will no welcome the spiritual Physician. This was the case with the Pharisees they despised Christ, because they thought themselves whole; but the poor publicans and sinners felt that they wanted instruction an amendment. It is easy, and too common, to put the worst construction upon the best words and actions. It may justly be suspected that thos have not the grace of God themselves, who are not pleased with others obtaining it. Christ's conversing with sinners is here called mercy for to promote the conversion of souls is the greatest act of mercy The gospel call is a call to repentance; a call to us to change ou minds, and to change our ways. If the children of men had not bee sinners, there had been no need for Christ to come among them. Let u examine whether we have found out our sickness, and have learned to follow the directions of our great Physician.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ ιδοντες 1492 5631 V-2AAP-NPM οι 3588 T-NPM φαρισαιοι 5330 N-NPM ειπον 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3P τοις 3588 T-DPM μαθηταις 3101 N-DPM αυτου 846 P-GSM δια 1223 PREP τι 5101 I-ASN μετα 3326 PREP των 3588 T-GPM τελωνων 5057 N-GPM και 2532 CONJ αμαρτωλων 268 A-GPM εσθιει 2068 5719 V-PAI-3S ο 3588 T-NSM διδασκαλος 1320 N-NSM υμων 5216 P-2GP
