Mark 2:15-17

2:15 As Jesus ¹  was having a meal ²  in Levi’s ³  home, many tax collectors ⁴  and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 2:16 When the experts in the law ⁵  and the Pharisees ⁶  saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ⁷  2:17 When Jesus heard this he said to them, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. ⁸  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Luke 5:29-32

5:29 Then ⁹  Levi gave a great banquet ¹⁰  in his house for Jesus, ¹¹  and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting ¹²  at the table with them. 5:30 But ¹³  the Pharisees ¹⁴  and their experts in the law ¹⁵  complained ¹⁶  to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹⁷  5:31 Jesus ¹⁸  answered them, “Those who are well don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. ¹⁹  5:32 I have not come ²⁰  to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” ²¹ 

[2:15]  ¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:15]  ² tn Grk “As he reclined at table.”

[2:15]  ³ tn Grk “his.”

[2:15]  ⁴ sn The tax collectors would bid to collect taxes for the Roman government and then add a surcharge, which they kept. Since tax collectors worked for Rome, they were viewed as traitors to their own people and were not well liked.

[2:16]  ⁵ tn Or “the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.

[2:16]  ⁶ sn Pharisees were members of one of the most important and influential religious and political parties of Judaism in the time of Jesus. There were more Pharisees than Sadducees (according to Josephus, Ant. 17.2.4 [17.42] there were more than 6,000 Pharisees at about this time). Pharisees differed with Sadducees on certain doctrines and patterns of behavior. The Pharisees were strict and zealous adherents to the laws of the OT and to numerous additional traditions such as angels and bodily resurrection.

[2:16]  ⁷ sn The issue here is inappropriate associations. Jews were very careful about personal associations and contact as a matter of ritual cleanliness. Their question borders on an accusation that Jesus is ritually unclean.

[2:17]  ⁸ sn Jesus’ point is that he associates with those who are sick because they have the need and will respond to the offer of help. A person who is healthy (or who thinks mistakenly that he is) will not seek treatment.

[5:29]  ⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[5:29]  ¹⁰ sn A great banquet refers to an elaborate meal. Many of the events in Luke take place in the context of meal fellowship: 7:36-50; 9:12-17; 10:38-42; 11:37-54; 14:1-24; 22:7-38; 24:29-32, 41-43.

[5:29]  ¹¹ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:29]  ¹² tn Grk “reclining.” This term reflects the normal practice in 1st century Jewish culture of eating a meal in a semi-reclining position. Since it is foreign to most modern readers, the translation “sitting” has been substituted.

[5:30]  ¹³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the implied contrast present in this context.

[5:30]  ¹⁴ sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.

[5:30]  ¹⁵ tn Or “and their scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.

[5:30]  ¹⁶ tn Or “grumbled”; a term often used in the OT for inappropriate grumbling: Exod 15:24; 16:7-8; Num 14:2, 26-35; 16:11.

[5:30]  ¹⁷ sn The issue here is inappropriate associations (eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners) and the accusation comes not against Jesus, but his disciples.

[5:31]  ¹⁸ tn Grk “And Jesus.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[5:31]  ¹⁹ sn Jesus’ point is that he associates with those who are sick because they have the need and will respond to the offer of help. A person who is well (or who thinks mistakenly that he is) will not seek treatment.

[5:32]  ²⁰ sn I have not come is another commission statement by Jesus; see 4:43-44.

[5:32]  ²¹ sn Though parallels exist to this saying (Matt 9:13; Mark 2:17), only Luke has this last phrase but sinners to repentance. Repentance is a frequent topic in Luke’s Gospel: 3:3, 8; 13:1-5; 15:7, 10; 16:30; 17:3-4; 24:47.