Paragraph 9:10–11

9:10a

Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house: Some events happened between Jesus asking Matthew to follow him (in 9:9c), and Jesus reclining to eat a meal in Matthew’s house (in 9:10a). Somewhere between these two events, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to come and eat at his house, and they went.

In some languages, it is important to include some of this implied information. For example:

⌊Later⌋ Matthew ⌊invited⌋ Jesus ⌊and his disciples⌋ ⌊to eat⌋ at his home. While they were eating
-or-
Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests (New Living Translation (2004))

Later, as Jesus: In Greek, only Jesus is mentioned here. However, in 9:10c, Jesus’ disciples are also mentioned. In some languages, it will be more natural to mention the disciples here. For example:

Jesus and his disciples (Contemporary English Version)

was dining: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was dining is literally just “reclined” or “lay.” The Greek text does not mention a eating explicitly. However, the Berean Standard Bible and many other English versions translate this word to imply eating because it is common for many people in western cultures to “recline” at tables to eat. Also 9:10c explicitly mentions eating, so it likely that this Greek verb indicates Jesus’ physical posture as he ate.

In this context, the Greek word probably means that Jesus was lying on his side on a low couch or cushion as he ate. His head was propped on one elbow. This was one of the positions that people of Jesus’ time used when they ate, especially if it was a special meal.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

was having a meal (Good News Translation)
-or-
was eating

at Matthew’s house: This phrase refers to Matthew’s house.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

in Matthew’s house (Good News Translation)

9:10b

The Greek of 9:10b begins with a word that is often translated as “behold.” It indicates that something extraordinary will happen. The Berean Standard Bible does not translate this word. Here, what is unexpected is that Jesus and his disciples ate with tax collectors and other sinners. This is something that Pharisees would not do.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

it happened (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
unexpectedly

tax collectors: The term tax collectors refers to Jews who collected taxes from their fellow Jews. These Jews were employed by the conquering Romans to do this. The Romans did not pay them wages. Rather they allowed the tax collectors to take extra taxes as their pay. But many tax collectors took a lot extra and made themselves rich. So most Jews considered them to be traitors who worked for an oppressive foreign power. They also considered them to be thieves. And since tax collectors had contact with the Gentile Romans, they were also considered to be religiously contaminated (“unclean”).

Here are some other ways to translate this term:

people who collect taxes
-or-
people who took money ⌊from the people⌋ for the Roman government

This term also occurs in 5:46b.

If people in your area will not think of tax collectors as bad people, you may want to include some implied information.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

• Include some implied information in the term tax collectors. For example:

⌊corrupt⌋ tax collectors
-or-

⌊evil⌋ tax collectors

• Include some implied information in the term sinners that reflects on tax collectors. For example:

tax collectors and other sinners (Contemporary English Version)

sinners: The word sinners refers to two other types of Jews:

(a) Jews who were sinful/immoral. They did not follow the laws of Moses, and

(b) Jews who did not follow the strict laws of the Pharisees regarding how to remain ceremonially clean/pure.

The Pharisees believed that they would become unclean/impure if they associated with either of these types of people. So they shunned them.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

lawbreakers
-or-
other people whom the Jewish leaders regarded as sinful people
-or-
people who were thought/said to be evil/sinful
-or-
outcasts (Good News Translation)

9:10c

ate with Him and His disciples: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ate is literally “reclined with” or “lay with.” It is a similar word to the one used of Jesus in 9:10a (“was dining”). As in 9:10a, the word ate indicates that the tax collectors and sinners ate a meal with Jesus and his disciples.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

and ate with him and his disciples (New International Version)

-or-

and joined them at the meal

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