Calling the Sick and the Sinners

As word of what Jesus had said and done reached the scribes, they grumbled among themselves. They rejected Jesus because of His words and because He associated with sinners. Their opposition continued to increase until they openly accused Jesus of being demonpossessed (3:22) and plotted to kill Him (3:6).

1. Jesus probably was teaching in Simon’s house. The house roofs were usually made of wooden beams with thatch and compacted earth in order to shed the rain. Sometimes tiles were laid between the beams and the thatch and earth placed over them. Access to the roof was by means of an outside stairway. ¹ The family would sleep there, and use it as a living room during the day, as well as a storeroom, where raisins, figs, flax, were spread out in the sun. ²

2. Blasphemy (2:7): From the Greek blasphemeo, which means, “to slander.” Generally, it refers to slandering against God. ³ There are two general forms of blasphemy: one is attributing evil to God, or denying Him glory and praise. The other is claiming a creature to be God. The punishment for blasphemy was death by stoning. ⁴

3. Levi (2:14): Another name for Matthew (Mt 9:9), author of the first book of the New Testament.

4. Tax collectors/publicans (2:15): Local Jewish men employed by Roman tax contractors to collect taxes. Because they worked for Rome and often demanded unreasonable payments, tax collectors were generally hated and considered to be traitors. ⁵ A tax collector was stationed in a tax booth, which brought daily contact with all classes of the population, including the Gentiles, ⁶ whom many Jews despised.

5. Pharisees (2:16): Literally, “Separated Ones.” They were teachers in the synagogues, religious examples in the eyes of the people and self-appointed guardians of the law and its proper observance. They considered the interpretations and regulations handed down by tradition to be virtually as authoritative as Scripture. ⁷