Mark 2:16 Meaning and Explanation
“And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The scribes and Pharisees object that Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners.
What Does Mark 2:16 Mean?
The scribes and Pharisees—guardians of ritual purity—see Jesus at table with such company and are scandalized. They put their objection to the disciples: how can your teacher eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners? In their world, the company one kept defined one's holiness.
Their question reveals a heart that values separation over compassion. They cannot imagine a holiness that goes toward the unclean rather than away from them. Yet this is precisely the holiness of Christ, who is not defiled by sinners but comes to heal them. The grumbling of the religious becomes the backdrop against which the mercy of Jesus shines all the brighter, a mercy that seeks rather than shuns.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 2:16
What does Mark 2:16 mean?
The scribes and Pharisees object that Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners.