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Explanation for:
Matthew
9
:
10
And it came to pass as he was sitting at meat in the house, behold many publicans and sinners came, and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He selected James, a collector of taxes, to serve as an example to his companions who were resolved to follow Christ. He recognized those lost in sin and summoned them, inviting them to share a meal with Him. What an astonishing scene! The angels stood in awe of His glory while the tax collectors celebrated the opportunity to be in His presence. Blessed beings shudder at His greatness, yet sinners find fellowship with Him at the table."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"When Christ invited Matthew to follow Him, He honored him greatly by sharing a meal with him. In doing so, He instilled in Matthew a hopeful outlook for what was to come, elevating his hopes even further. Rather than providing a prolonged cure for the ailments of his spirit, Christ granted immediate healing. His presence at the table was not exclusive to Matthew; He dined with many others as well. Some criticized Jesus for associating with sinners, and the evangelists openly report that the Pharisees reproached Him for it. Because Matthew viewed the honor of receiving Christ as significant, he welcomed other tax collectors as companions. Christ engaged in various forms of healing, liberating many from spiritual afflictions not only through His teachings, miraculous acts, and confrontations with adversaries but also during meals, demonstrating that all occasions and actions can serve a redemptive purpose. Despite the meals’ origins, which were tainted by dishonesty and theft, Christ did not shy away; His presence was transformative, even in the company of notorious sinners, though it drew scorn upon Him for dining at the home of a tax collector and being associated with several others. This reflects the role of a healer: one must sometimes endure the unpleasantness of the sick to bring about their healing. Observe how the Jews scorned Him, declaring, “Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners” (Matthew 11:19). Those who seek glory through fasting should reflect on how our Lord was labeled a glutton and a winebibber, yet He embraced this to fulfill His mission – the transformation of the tax collector, leading to his betterment. \\n\\nTo illustrate the extent of Christ’s association with sinners at meals, consider Zacchaeus, another tax collector. Upon hearing Christ declare, “Today I must stay at your house” (Luke 19:5), Zacchaeus responded fervently, “I will give half of my goods to the poor, and if I have wronged anyone, I will restore fourfold” (v. 8). Jesus then proclaimed, “Today salvation has come to this house” (v. 9). This clearly instructs others about the redemptive potential found in such associations. Some may question how Paul instructs, “If anyone who is called a brother is an immoral person or a covetous person, do not associate with such” (1 Cor. 5:11). However, it is not immediately clear from this directive if Paul is addressing leaders or merely fellow believers. The tax collectors did not belong to the perfect or the faithful. Furthermore, Paul advises separating oneself from those who persist in sin, while the tax collectors had turned from their wrongdoings and experienced a genuine change."},{"author-name":"Peter Chrysologus","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896c8505740d15218d3ed_Peter%20Chrysologus.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":5,"exegesis-text":"In the perspective of Matthew, Jesus did not merely rest on a bed and abstain from food; rather, He bore the transgressions of sinners, inviting them to a banquet, a gathering, a community to share in heartfelt dialogue over a meal. He understood that if they perceived Him solely as a harsh Judge, they would be terrified by His might and overwhelmed by the proximity of the Divine. Consequently, veiled within His human form, He sought to relate to all people. The One who came to rescue humanity concealed His role as Judge. The One who bestowed hope upon the downtrodden disguised His identity as the Lord, and the One desiring the vulnerable to feel the embrace of the Father’s love, concealed His own majesty."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Filled with joy at Christ's presence, Matthew summoned the tax collectors, and Christ, seeking to bless them, shared a meal with them, despite facing criticism for His actions. The Pharisees, aiming to distance His followers from Him, denounced His association with tax collectors."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Recognizing Matthew's profound obedience and effort, Christ visited his home to honor him and cultivate a friendship that would encourage others present toward correction. Following this grace, Matthew became even more fervent, and as noted by Luke, he hosted a grand celebration in his home, essentially a sacred feast. The term publicans and sinners was used to describe those looked down upon, labeled as unjust, greedy, merciless, and shameless. However, there may have been others at the gathering who were also engaged in similar professions and shared the same flawed desires, as like tends to associate with like. Therefore, Matthew welcomed them to the feast, as they participated in his joy as colleagues and friends. In this setting, Christ allowed them to recline at the table with Him, recognizing the positive impact this would have on those in His presence. He also partook of the meal, even though it came from their questionable earnings, as profound benefit could arise from it, and He remained unfazed by the criticisms of others, understanding that a healer must confront sickness directly to remove it. He was acutely aware that this would lead to malicious gossip, given He was dining with publicans and sinners. Later, the Jewish leaders indeed derided Him, saying, \\"Behold, a man gluttonous and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners\\" (Matt. 11:19); nevertheless, He dismissed such remarks to accomplish His purpose and demonstrate the significance of reclined fellowship. Consider the statement made by Zacchaeus the tax collector. Upon hearing Christ declare, \\"Today I must stay at your house\\" (Luke 19:5), he was filled with joy and replied, \\"Behold, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor, and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.\\" Jesus responded, \\"Today salvation has come to this house\\" (Luke 19:8-9). In contrast, Paul instructs, \\"But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator\\" (1 Cor. 5:11). Paul addresses the brethren here, guiding them not to associate with such individuals, yet the tax collectors and sinners had not yet been transformed into brethren. Furthermore, this admonition was given while they were still in their sins, but in contrast, the latter were more inclined toward change."},{"author-name":"Tichon of Zadonsk","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989ff6b5b4c943e70095_Tichon%20of%20Zadonsk.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":18,"exegesis-text":"The holy Gospel reveals to us that Jesus was accessible to those who sinned. Tax collectors and sinners approached Him to hear His words (Luke 15:1), and He willingly shared meals with them. While Jesus reclined at a table, many tax collectors and sinners gathered around Him and His disciples (Matt. 9:10). Therefore, dear Christians, we see that He who is beyond reach for the Cherubim and Seraphim, revered and exalted by them in unapproachable light (1 Tim. 6:16), has made Himself accessible to sinners. How marvelous is Your goodness and compassion, O Jesus our God! Glory be to Your goodness, Your compassion, Your generosity, and Your willingness to come down to us! Truly, like the prophet, we stand in awe and ask: Lord, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? (Psalm 143:3). Listen, sinners, and take heed! The great and unfathomable God has humbled Himself to be among us, allowing tax collectors and sinners to draw near. The sinners recognized their Savior, the weak their Healer, the lost the good Shepherd, those in darkness the Light, the perishing the Life, and the needy the Source of their joy; they approached Him, drawn by His divine power, the humanity reflected in His holy countenance, and the heavenly, glorious message He shared. In Jesus, they found only humility, gentleness, patience, mercy, and kindness. Sinners, why do we rest in complacency, hesitate to approach, and remain in darkness? Why do we not seek the light? Why do we remain unhealed and neglect the healing offered by the divine Physician? Let us come to Him with confidence and faith, and we will not be put to shame (Psalm 33:6). \\n\\nThus, it is evident that the saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15), and the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Jesus Christ is here for the salvation of sinners, yet those who sin must heed His call: repent, for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Matt. 4:17; 9:13). Sinners must turn from their ways and seek transformation, and then Christ will bring them salvation. \\n\\nTherefore, for sinners who genuinely repent, there is hope. If He came to save sinners, He came to save you, for you are one of those who have strayed. If He seeks the lost, He will also seek you, as you are among the lost. We observe that true holiness does not reject sinners. The righteous one despises sin, not the sinner; he has aversion to sins, not to those who commit them. The proud scribes and Pharisees, claiming their own holiness, scorned sinners, asking the apostles why their Master dined with them (Matthew 9:11). However, Christ, the holiest and the origin of all holiness, welcomed sinners. His holy followers exemplify this attitude; they detest sin but show love and empathy for those who sin. Let the prideful disdain of the Pharisees be shamed, for it is they who look down upon sinners! \\n\\nFrom this, shepherds learn to guide sinners towards repentance without engaging in their sins. The shepherd's role is to search for lost sheep. Good healers tend to be found where the sick are. It is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick (Matthew 9:12). \\n\\nAdditionally, authorities—lords, nobles, and powerful figures—as well as all Christians should refrain from despising or belittling any person, no matter how lowly. Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, neither rejected nor looked down upon anyone. Likewise, those who hold worldly status should not scorn others who share their humanity. We are all human, sharing the same nature, and even the noble possess the same soul and body as the lowly. Often, a stranger may stand more righteously before God than a nobleman, and a servant may be favored by God above his master. True dignity and integrity are not measured by material wealth or worldly titles, but by the purity of the soul and the virtue within. God judges our inner worth, not our outward appearance. One pious, God-fearing individual is considered of greater value to God than countless ungodly people, despite their prominence in the world. Thus, may all Christians find their example in Christ, who embodies humility and condescension, and may they follow Him in all things, showing no contempt for anyone. \\n\\nTherefore, the arrogance of lords, princes, and nobility, who view their servants and peasants as less than human, as well as the wealthy who look down upon the impoverished and miserable, is laid bare. Pride belongs to those made of dust (Sir. 10:9). Why should a sinner look down upon another sinner? Why should the poor disdain those in poverty? All men are created equal, regardless of their temporal circumstances. Nobles, lords, and the esteemed among us should take heed of the coffins of their forebears, for in that moment, they will realize the shared fate of all humanity—be they esteemed or humble. It is a mark of a noble soul to exhibit compassion and pity for the poor and sinful, rather than to scorn and reject them."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Matthew, recounting the evening meal, modestly refrains from specifying the location, stating merely: AND WHEN JESUS WAS LEAVING THE HOUSE, meaning that the Savior was reclining at a low table, supported by a cushion, and partaking of his host's meal. While the Savior followed the Eastern tradition of reclining at the low table and enjoying the hospitality, many sinners, viewed unfavorably by the Pharisees, gathered at Matthew’s invitation. They reclined, or humbled themselves, around the table with Him and His disciples. The Lord engaged with them, lovingly sharing teachings about salvation and what is essential for salvation. St. Chrysostom observes that He brought healing to the souls, even while dining, teaching us that every moment and situation can be a source of benefit. Despite the fact that the food at this gathering was acquired through unjust means, Christ did not shy away from sharing it. He chose to be present with notorious sinners at the same table, despite attracting criticism for dining with the tax collector in the tax collector’s house, alongside many others. You may wonder about the Apostle Paul’s instruction: if someone is called a brother yet remains a fornicator, greedy, idolater, wrongdoer, drunkard, or glutton, do not even eat with such a person (1 Corinthians 5:11). The Apostle instructs to separate from those who refuse to turn away from their immoralities; however, the tax collectors later repented and changed their ways. In contrast, the Pharisees sought to find fault with the Lord and accused the Savior of allegedly breaching the words of the Psalms: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked (Psalm 1:1)."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Jewish people, along with other individuals from the East, had a tradition of reclining during meals instead of sitting at a table. They would gather around a low table, resting their left hand on a cushion. In this instance, it was Matthew, also known as Levi, who after his calling decided to host a meal for his Master. Inspired by the Lord’s grace towards someone whom society deemed a sinner, Matthew invited many of his fellow tax collectors and outcasts—individuals who, according to Jewish law and particularly among the Pharisees, were considered to have questionable morals. These companions dined alongside the Savior and His disciples, sharing in the meal."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The tax collector Matthew, overjoyed by the invitation, welcomed Jesus and His disciples into his home, where he prepared a meal for them. In accordance with the traditions of the eastern cultures, they did not sit at a table in the usual manner for their meals; instead, they reclined around it on special couches or benches, resting on a cushion with their left hand. Jesus and His disciples, having received Matthew's invitation, reclined at the table. In addition, Matthew's fellow tax collectors and his associates—whom the Pharisees regarded as sinners—gathered and joined them at the same table."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Matthew, filled with joy at the compassionate words of his Lord responding to the deepest yearning of his heart, prepared a lavish banquet at his residence. Jesus Christ and His disciples willingly joined in this celebration, which was also graced by numerous tax collectors and sinners, who were Matthew’s friends and associates in profession. Christ chose to share fellowship with them in the same dwelling and at the same table, for, as St John Chrysostom observes, this scenario could yield significant blessings. St Gregory of Nyssa articulates that 'the Infinitely Pure and Just One' displayed immense mercy toward those deserving of judgment, engaging with them not to indulge in their wrongdoing but to impart His righteousness to them, akin to the sun’s light that shines not only over open fields but also into valleys and dark caverns."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Shortly after the events previously mentioned, the Lord passed by the Sea of Gennesaret once more; this time He called a different fisherman, not one of humble origin but Matthew, a tax collector. Understanding the Pharisees' view of publicans is essential for grasping the significance of this choice, both in that era and today. Tax collectors in Judaea, often working on behalf of the Gentile ruler, employed harsh tactics and frequently oppressed the poor to amass wealth. As a result, they were regarded as some of the most despised individuals in devout Jewish society, though not all were morally lacking. The term ‘publican’ carried the same weight as ‘sinner.’ By inviting Matthew to be among His closest followers, the Lord aimed to demonstrate that He had come to summon sinners to repentance. Just as those labeled as sinners can sometimes be no more wicked than those who consider themselves righteous yet unrepentant, there are many within the ranks of the seemingly righteous who are, in truth, sinners at their core. Matthew’s swift decision to heed the Lord's call revealed his worthiness to receive the divine invitation, comparable to that of the other disciples. In a display of gratitude for the Lord’s kindness, he boldly invited Jesus to join him and his fellow disciples for a meal, extending the invitation to many of his acquaintances. The Lord, recognizing the significance of Matthew's love and understanding that his actions could inspire other tax collectors, accepted the invitation; He desired the Pharisees to grasp the meaning behind His choice. However, they failed to perceive it as intended."}]}
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