Matthew 9:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

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.

To 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.

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.

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).

Thus, 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.

Therefore, 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!

From 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).

Additionally, 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.

Therefore, 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.

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).

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.

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.