Matthew 9 · Verse 10

Matthew 9:10

And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

Matthew 9:10, King James Version

Matthew 9:10 in other translations

BSB	Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples.
WEB	As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.
ASV	And it came to pass, as he sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.
YLT	And it came to pass, he reclining (at meat) in the house, that lo, many tax-gatherers and sinners having come, were lying (at meat) with Jesus and his disciples,
DARBY	And it came to pass, as he lay at table in the house, that behold, many tax-gatherers and sinners came and lay at table with Jesus and his disciples.
BBE	And it came about, when he was in the house taking food, that a number of tax-farmers and sinners came and took their places with Jesus and his disciples.
Webster	And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at table in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

What does Matthew 9:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

10. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house--The modesty of our Evangelist signally appears here. Luke says (Lu 5:29) that "Levi made Him a great feast," or "reception," while Matthew merely says, "He sat at meat"; and Mark and Luke say that it was in Levi's "own house," while Matthew merely says, "He sat at meat in the house." Whether this feast was made now, or not till afterwards, is a point of some importance in the order of events, and not agreed among harmonists. The probability is that it did not take place till a considerable time afterwards. For Matthew, who ought surely to know what took place while his Lord was speaking at his own table, tells us that the visit of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, occurred at that moment (Mt 9:18). But we know from Mark and Luke that this visit of Jairus did not take place till after our Lord's return, at a later period from the country of the Gadarenes. (See Mr 5:21, &c., and Lu 8:40, &c.). We conclude, therefore, that the feast was not made in the novelty of his discipleship, but after Matthew had had time to be somewhat established in the faith; when returning to Capernaum, his compassion for old friends, of his own calling and character, led him to gather them together that they might have an opportunity of hearing the gracious words which proceeded out of His Master's mouth, if haply they might experience a like change. behold, many publicans and sinners--Luke says, "a great company" (Lu 5:29) came and sat down with him and his disciples--In all such cases the word rendered "sat" is "reclined," in allusion to the ancient mode of lying on couches at meals.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 10. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house. This feast was given to him by Levi, or Matthew, Lk 5:29. This is another circumstance favourable to Matthew, but omitted by him, and recorded by Luke; showing, also, that the apostles were averse to praising themselves. To receive Christ hospitably and kindly was a commendable act, and it strongly evinces Matthew's freedom from ostentation that he has supposed the fact. It thus illustrates the command of the Saviour, as recorded by himself, Mt 6:1-4.

At meat. At the table, at supper.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 10 Sat at meat in the house - Viz. of Matthew, who it appears, from Luk 5:29, made a great feast on the occasion, thus testifying his gratitude for the honor done him; and that his friends and acquaintances might profit by the teaching of his new master, he invites them to the entertainment that was honored by the presence of Christ. His companions, it appears, were not of the most creditable kind. They were tax-gatherers (see Mat 5:46) and sinners, αμαρτωλοι, a word which I believe in general signifies heathens, throughout the Gospels, and in several other parts of the New Testament. See, among others, Mat 11:19 (note); Mat 26:45 (note); Mar 2:15-17 (note); Mar 14:41; Luk 5:30-32 (note); Luk 6:32-34 (note); Luk 7:34, Luk 7:37, (note); Luk 7:39; Luk 15:1, Luk 15:2, Luk 15:7, Luk 15:10 (note); Luk 19:7 (note); Luk 24:7 (note); Joh 9:16, Joh 9:24, Joh 9:25, Joh 9:31 (note); Rom 5:8 (note); Gal 2:15 (note); Heb 7:26 (note); 1Pet 4:18 (note); in most, if not all of which places, it evidently refers to the character or state of a Gentile, or Heathen. See also the notes on these passages.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 9:10-13

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 effectually brought to Christ, cannot but desire that others also may be brought to him. Those who suppose their souls to be without disease will not 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 and amendment. It is easy, and too common, to put the worst constructions upon the best words and actions. It may justly be suspected that those 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 our minds, and to change our ways. If the children of men had not been sinners, there had been no need for Christ to come among them. Let us examine whether we have found out our sickness, and have learned to follow the directions of our great Physician.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Matthew 9:10 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532

ἐγένετοegenetoit came to passG1096

αὐτοῦautouwhen heG846

ἀνακειμένουanakeimenouis recliningG345

ἐνeninG1722

τῇtēatheG3588

οἰκίᾳ,oikiahouse,G3614

καὶkaithatG2532

ἰδοὺidoubeholdG2400

πολλοὶpolloimanyG4183

τελῶναιtelōnaitax collectorsG5057

καὶkaiandG2532

ἁμαρτωλοὶhamartōloisinnersG268

ἐλθόντεςelthonteshaving comeG2064

συνανέκειντοsunanekeintothey were reclining withG4873

τῷtō<the>G3588

ἸησοῦIēsouJesusG2424

καὶkaiandG2532

τοῖςtoistheG3588

μαθηταῖςmathētaisdisciplesG3101

αὐτοῦ.autouof Him.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 9:10

Luke 5:29-32
And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Mark 2:15-17
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 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? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
1 Timothy 1:13-16
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Matthew 5:46-47
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
John 9:31
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

as.
Mr 2:15,16,17; Lu 5:29-32
many.
5:46,47; Joh 9:31; 1Ti 1:13-16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Matthew 9:9
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
Matthew 9:10
And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
Matthew 9:11
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

Read all of Matthew 9

Matthew 9:10 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y aconteció que estando él sentado á la mesa en casa, he aquí que muchos publicanos y pecadores, que habían venido, se sentaron juntamente á la mesa con Jesús y sus discípulos.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et il arriva, comme il était à table dans la maison, que voici, beaucoup de publicains et de pécheurs vinrent et se mirent à table avec Jésus et ses disciples;
German Elberfelder 1871	Und es geschah, als er in dem Hause zu Tische lag, siehe, da kamen viele Zöllner und Sünder und lagen zu Tische mit Jesu und seinen Jüngern.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et factum est, discumbente eo in domo, ecce multi publicani et peccatores venientes, discumbebant cum Jesu, et discipulis ejus.