The Meaning of Matthew 9:10 Explained

Matthew 9:10

KJV: 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.

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.

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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Matthew 9:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 9:9-17 - The Friend Of Sinners
The name Levi indicates that Matthew sprang from a priestly line. He had lost all self-respect to become the abhorred instrument of the Roman government, collecting dues on the merchandise that crossed the lake. But our Lord sees veins of gold and precious gems in most unlikely places, and He detected the apostle and evangelist in this despised publican.
Wherever a man is found by Christ, He sets Himself to find others, and the Lord is willing to co-operate in any effort to bring others to know Him. He will sit with perfect grace among publicans and sinners, lifting them to His own pure and holy level. He is always to be found where there are sin-sick souls; and where hearts are famished for love and joy, He is with them as their bridegroom.
But the joy of Christ will make for itself its own impression. The ancient forms will not suffice. The old skin-bottle will not contain the ferment of the new wine. How wonderfully Christ could extract lessons from familiar objects! [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 9

1  Jesus heals a paralytic
9  calls Matthew from the receipt of custom;
10  eats with tax collectors and sinners;
14  defends his disciples for not fasting;
20  cures the sick woman;
23  raises Jairus' daughter from death;
27  gives sight to two blind men;
32  heals a mute man possessed of a demon;
36  and has compassion on the multitude

Greek Commentary for Matthew 9:10

Publicans and sinners [τελωναι και αμαρτωλοι]
Often coupled together in common scorn and in contrast with the righteous It was a strange medley at Levi‘s feast (Jesus and the four fisher disciples, Nathanael and Philip; Matthew Levi and his former companions, publicans and sinners; Pharisees with their scribes or students as on-lookers; disciples of John the Baptist who were fasting at the very time that Jesus was feasting and with such a group). The Pharisees criticize sharply “your teacher” for such a social breach of “reclining” together with publicans at Levi‘s feast. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 9:10

Luke 3:12 Also publicans [και τελωναι]
We have had the word already in Matthew (Matthew 5:46; Matthew 9:10; Matthew 11:19; Matthew 18:17; Matthew 21:31.) and Mark (Mark 11:15.). It is sometimes coupled with harlots and other sinners, the outcasts of society. The word is made up from τελος — telos tax, and ωνεομαι — ōneomai to buy, and is an old one. The renter or collector of taxes was not popular anywhere, but least of all when a Jew collected taxes for the Romans and did it by terrible graft and extortions. [source]
Luke 5:29 Publicans and others [τελωνων και αλλων]
Luke declines here to use “sinners” like Mark 2:15 and Matthew 9:10 though he does so in Luke 5:30 and in Luke 15:1. None but social outcasts would eat with publicans at such a feast or barbecue, for it was a very large affair.Were sitting at meat with them (ησαν μετ αυτων κατακειμενοι — ēsan met' autōn katakeimenoi). Literally, were reclining with them (Jesus and the disciples). It was a motley crew that Levi had brought together, but he showed courage as well as loyalty to Jesus. [source]
Luke 7:36 That he would eat with him [ινα παγηι μετ αυτου]
Second aorist active subjunctive. The use of ινα — hina after ερωταω — erōtaō (see also Luke 16:27) is on the border between the pure object clause and the indirect question (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1046) and the pure final clause. Luke has two other instances of Pharisees who invited Jesus to meals (Luke 11:37; Luke 14:1) and he alone gives them. This is the Gospel of Hospitality (Ragg). Jesus would dine with a Pharisee or with a publican (Luke 5:29; Mark 2:15; Matthew 9:10) and even invited himself to be the guest of Zaccheus (Luke 9:5). This Pharisee was not as hostile as the leaders in Jerusalem. It is not necessary to think this Pharisee had any sinister motive in his invitation though he was not overly friendly (Plummer). [source]
John 14:2 House [οἰκίᾳ]
The dwelling-place. Used primarily of the edifice (Matthew 7:24; Matthew 8:14; Matthew 9:10; Acts 4:34). Of the family or all the persons inhabiting the house (Matthew 12:25; John 4:53; 1 Corinthians 16:15; Matthew 10:13). Of property (Matthew 23:14; Mark 12:40). Here meaning heaven. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 9:10 mean?

And it came to pass of Him reclining in the house that behold many tax collectors sinners having come were reclining with - Jesus the disciples
Καὶ ἐγένετο αὐτοῦ ἀνακειμένου ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ καὶ ἰδοὺ πολλοὶ τελῶναι ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἐλθόντες συνανέκειντο τῷ Ἰησοῦ τοῖς μαθηταῖς

ἐγένετο  it  came  to  pass 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἀνακειμένου  reclining 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ἀνάκειμαι  
Sense: to lie at a table, eat together, dine.
οἰκίᾳ  house 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: οἰκία  
Sense: a house.
καὶ  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἰδοὺ  behold 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἰδού  
Sense: behold, see, lo.
πολλοὶ  many 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.
τελῶναι  tax  collectors 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: τελώνης  
Sense: a renter or farmer of taxes.
ἁμαρτωλοὶ  sinners 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἁμαρτωλός  
Sense: devoted to sin, a sinner.
ἐλθόντες  having  come 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
συνανέκειντο  were  reclining  with 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: συνανάκειμαι 
Sense: to recline together, feast together.
τῷ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦ  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
μαθηταῖς  disciples 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: μαθητής  
Sense: a learner, pupil, disciple.

What are the major concepts related to Matthew 9:10?

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