Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 9:10-12

"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. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Teacher with the publicans and sinners? But when he heard it, he said, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick." — Matthew 9:10-12 (ASV)

In Matthew’s house, the Savior “sat at meat.” The new convert most naturally called in his old friends so that they might have the advantage of our Lord’s teaching. They would come to a supper more readily than to a sermon, and so he gave them a feast, and thus attracted them to the place where Jesus was. We may use all lawful means to bring others under the sound of the Word. A lot of the riff-raff came. “Sinners” by occupation, as well as sinners by character, ventured into the publican’s house and dared to sit “with him and his disciples,” as if they had been members of His society. Probably they had been Matthew’s boon companions, and now he wished them to become his brothers in Christ.

Our Lord willingly accepted Matthew’s hospitality, for He desired to do good to those who most needed to be uplifted. He allowed persons of ill-fame to “sit down with him and his disciples.” Here was a fine opportunity for the sneering Pharisees. They insinuated that the Lord Jesus could be but a sorry person, since He drew such a rabble around Him and even allowed them to be His table-companions. They were very careful of their company when any saw them, for they thought that their superior holiness would be debased by allowing sinners to sit with them, and now they have a handy stone to throw at Jesus while He eats with publicans and sinners.

The Pharisees were cowardly enough to speak their petty objection to His disciples rather than to the Master, but the Leader put Himself in the front and soon baffled the adversaries. His reasoning was overwhelming and His justification ample. Where should a physician be but among the sick? Who should come to a doctor’s house but those who are diseased? Thus our Lord was more than justified in being the center to which the morally sick should gather for their spiritual healing.

Lord, grant that if ever I am found in the company of sinners, it may be with the design of healing them, and may I never become myself infected with their disease!