Matthew 9 · Verse 11

Matthew 9:11

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
Matthew 9:11, King James Version

Matthew 9:11 in other translations

BSBWhen the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
WEBWhen the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
ASVAnd when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Teacher with the publicans and sinners?
YLTand the Pharisees having seen, said to his disciples, ‘Wherefore with the tax-gatherers and sinners doth your teacher eat?'
DARBYAnd the Pharisees seeing it, said to his disciples, Why does your teacher eat with tax-gatherers and sinners?
BBEAnd when the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, Why does your Master take food with tax-farmers and sinners?
WebsterAnd when the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

What does Matthew 9:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
11. And when the Pharisees--"and scribes," add Mark and Luke (Mr 2:6; Lu 5:21). saw it, they said--"murmured" or "muttered," says Luke (Lu 5:30). unto his disciples--not venturing to put their question to Jesus Himself. Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?--(See on Lu 15:2).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 11. Why eateth and drinketh, etc. To eat and drink with others denotes intimacy and familiarity. The Pharisees, by asking this question, accused him of seeking the society of such men, and of being the companion of the wicked. The inference which they would draw was, that he could not be himself righteous, since he delighted in the company of abandoned men.

(t) "and sinners" Mt 11:9, Lk 15:2, Heb 5:2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
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.

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…

Read the full comment on Matthew 9:10-13 →

Matthew 9:11 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
ἰδόντεςidonteshaving seen [it]G1492
οἱhoitheG3588
ΦαρισαῖοιPharisaioiPhariseesG5330
ἔλεγονelegonwas sayingG3004
τοῖςtoisto theG3588
μαθηταῖςmathētaisdisciplesG3101
αὐτοῦ·autouof Him;G846
διὰdiaBecause ofG1223
τίtiwhyG5101
μετὰmetawithG3326
τῶνtōntheG3588
τελωνῶνtelōnōntax collectorsG5057
καὶkaiandG2532
ἁμαρτωλῶνhamartōlōnsinnersG268
ἐσθίειesthieieatsG2068
ὁhotheG3588
διδάσκαλοςdidaskalosTeacherG1320
ὑμῶν;humōnof you?G4771

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

Cross references for Matthew 9:11

  • Matthew 11:19

    The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

  • Luke 5:30

    But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

  • Luke 15:1-2

    Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

  • Mark 2:16

    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?

  • 1 Corinthians 5:9-11

    I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

  • Galatians 2:15

    We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

  • Hebrews 5:2

    Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

  • Isaiah 65:5

    Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

  • Luke 19:7

    And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

  • 2 John 1:10

    If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

  • Mark 9:14-16

    And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they said.
Mr 2:16; 9:14-16
Why.
11:19; Isa 65:5; Lu 5:30; 15:1,2; 19:7; 1Co 5:9-11; Ga 2:15
Heb 5:2; 2Jo 1:10

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

Context

  • 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?

  • Matthew 9:12

    But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

Read all of Matthew 9

Matthew 9:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y viendo esto los Fariseos, dijeron á sus discípulos: ¿Por qué come vuestro Maestro con los publicanos y pecadores?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		ce que les pharisiens ayant vu, ils dirent à ses disciples: Pourquoi votre maître mange-t-il avec les publicains et les pécheurs?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und als die Pharisäer es sahen, sprachen sie zu seinen Jüngern: Warum isset euer Lehrer mit den Zöllnern und Sündern?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et videntes pharisæi, dicebant discipulis ejus: Quare cum publicanis et peccatoribus manducat magister vester?