Matthew 9:11 Meaning and Explanation
“And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The Pharisees object to the company Jesus keeps, questioning why he eats with such disreputable people.
What Does Matthew 9:11 Mean?
The Pharisees, a group devoted to careful purity and separation from anything unclean, are scandalized by what they see. Rather than confront Jesus directly, they direct their complaint to his disciples: why does their Master share a table with tax collectors and sinners? In their understanding, holiness meant keeping such people, and such meals, at a careful distance.
Their question exposes a deep difference in how holiness is understood to work. They guard it by exclusion, drawing lines to keep the unclean out; Jesus extends it by drawing near to the very ones they avoid. The objection lays bare hearts that prize their own spotless reputation above the rescue of the lost. It is a danger that quietly tempts every religious person who forgets why mercy was given.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 9:11
What does Matthew 9:11 mean?
The Pharisees object to the company Jesus keeps, questioning why he eats with such disreputable people.