Jesus dines with tax collectors and sinners at Matthew's house, drawing criticism from the Pharisees. He defends his actions by saying that those who are sick need a doctor, not the righteous, and that he has come to call sinners to repentance. Jesus also explains that his disciples do not fast because fasting is inappropriate while the bridegroom is present, referring to himself, but that a time will come when he is taken away and fasting will be suitable. He uses metaphors of patching old garments and putting new wine in old wineskins to illustrate that his teachings require a new approach, not just reforming the old religious system.

1. The Feast at Matthew's House
Matthew 9:10-13
Mark 2:15-17
Luke 5:29-32
John (no reference)
Luke 5
29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a
great company of publicans andof others that sat down with them.
Matt 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house,
behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and
his disciples.
Mark 2:15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his
house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus
and his disciples:for there were many, and they followed
him.
It is characteristic of the true disciple that he wishes other men
like himself (Act. 26:29).
Acts 26:29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all
that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am,
except these bonds.
John 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We
have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
The man who was always for making money is now spending it freely.
He who sat formerly in the “receipt of custom” is now at the feet of the
Saviour; and is doing all he can to bring others under the sound of His
voice.

2. Luke 5
30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmuredagainst his disciples, saying,
Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
Matt 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples,
Why eateth your Master with publicans andsinners?
Mark 2:16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat
with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is
it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
Recovering Pharisee
by Buddy Greene
I'm a pharisee in recovery
With new eyes I can see a big sinner in me
But it's the way of my human heart
To confess otherpeople'ssin,
Reluctant to admit my part or the deeperproblem within.
But, thank God, He won't let me be, or remain in my hypocrisy
Sooneror later I'll be on my knees
honest to God a recovering Pharisee
Publicans and sinners
The lowest class of people in the sight of the Scribes and Pharisees:
 Fallen woman (Luke 7:39)
 Blindman (John 9:31,34)
There is no classification to a dead man; one may be more rotten than
another but they are both dead.
Num 18:15 Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they
bring unto the LORD, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine:
nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the
firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.
Matt 10:3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican;
James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

3. Luke 5:27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican,
named Levi, sitting at the receiptof custom: and he said unto him, Follow
me.
Rom 3:20-23 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be
justifiedin his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being
witnessedby the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christunto all
and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
1Tim 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthyof all acceptation, that Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Matt 9:12-13 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that
be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn whatthat meaneth, I will have mercy, and not
sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance.
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died
for the ungodly.
Rom 5:8-9 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through him.
Christ’s mercy is to the sinner, but not to his sins
Ps 130:4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Ezek 36:31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings
that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your
iniquities and for your abominations.

4. 1Cor 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be
calledan apostle, because I persecutedthe church of God.
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace
given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable
riches of Christ;
Luke 5
31 And Jesus answeringsaidunto them, They that are whole need not a
physician; but they that are sick.
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Matt 9:12-13 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them,
They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and
not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance.
Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that
are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick:
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Jesus defends his disciples for not fasting
Matthew 9:14-17
Mark 2:18-22
Luke 5:33-39
John (no reference)
Matt 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we
and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

5. Mark 2:18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to
fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John
and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
Luke 5:33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of
John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of
the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
Not only do the disciples sometimes feast with publicans, but do not
observe the Jewish fasts either (those practised by the disciples of John
the Baptist).
Fasting is not a Divine commandment in the Old Testament; it was a voluntary
practice among people who were in deep need. Isa 58:3-7, Zech 7:5-6
The N.T. Christians did fastafter He was ascended (Acts 13:1-3, 14:23, 2Cor 11:27)
Luke 5
34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber
fast, while the bridegroomis with them?
Mark 2:19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the
bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as
they have the bridegroom with them, they cannotfast.
“Childrenof the bride chamber”
Israelas attendants on Christas Bridegroom with His bride, the church (Eph 5:23-
33, John 3:29)
John 3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the
friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him,
rejoiceth greatlybecause of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy
therefore is fulfilled.

6. Matt 9:15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the
bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them?
but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them,
and then shall they fast.
Mark 2:20 But the days will come, when the bridegroomshall be
taken awayfrom them, and then shall they fast in those days.
Luke 5
35 But the days will come, when the bridegroomshall be taken
away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
In the absence of the heavenly Bridegroom, the Church is exposed to trials
(Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and
night unto him, though he bear long with them?).
After the rapture the Jews in the Tribulation will fast, and then they will attend as
friends of the Bridegroomwhen He returns with His Bride.
Luke 5
36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a
new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent,
and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
Mark 2:21 No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old
garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old,
and the rent is made worse.
Matt 9:16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old
garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the
garment, and the rent is made worse.

7. The garment and Cloth are to cover the human body: (Isa 59:17, 61:10,Luke
15:22)
Luke 12:23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than
raiment.
Or a covering for the body
Isa 59:17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of
salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for
clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my
God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath
covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh
himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe,
and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
God’s Light is a garment; the heavens are likened to cloths which can be folded
up.
 Job 10:11 Body is a garment for the soul (Mark 8:36, Luke 9:25)
 Job 38:8-9 Clouds are a garment for the sea
 Ps 102:25-26 Earth and the Heavens are a garment
 Ps 104:2 Light a garment for God
 Ps 104:5-6 The deep was a garment for the earth
 Ps 109:17-18 Cursing is the garment of a wicked man
 Prov 30:4 The waters a garment for darkness (Job 38:9-14
 Isa 51:6 Earth a garment for hell (Amos 9:2)
 Mal 2:16 Cloths are a garment to cover abuse
 Jude 1:23 Self righteousness a garment to cover rotten flesh
Luke 5
37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will
burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

8. Mark 2:22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the
new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the
bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
Matt 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else
the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles
perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are
preserved.
Luke 5
39 No man also havingdrunk old wine straightwaydesireth new: for he
saith, The old is better.
New wine= new cloth; Old bottles= old garment
New wine is a type of the Holy Spirit (Act 2:13, Mat 26:29, Eph 5:18)
Acts 2:13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
Matt 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day
when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
New wine cannot be found in a bottle but in the cluster (Isa 65:8 Thus saith the
LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a
blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.)
In the Old Testament there was no permanent indwelling of the H.S. (Ex 31:3,
Num 11:17, 29, 27:18, Neh 9:30, Isa 63:11)
The disciples of John the Baptist (Mat 9:14) are asking the question. John the
Baptist is the “end of the law and prophets”and is not part of the Bride (Luke
16:16, John 3:29)
Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the
kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
John 3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the
bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the
bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
For the indwelling of the H.S. it will take a new “Body”(system) not the “old”
Testament Jewish nation.

9. The nation of Israel= old garment,
New garment= the “Bodyof Christ”
The Jewish system was now becoming “old and ready to vanish away”
(Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which
decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.), and Christ was about to
replace it by something new. The Pharisees had multiplied fasts and
ceremonies, which were like patches upon the whole system; and even
John the Baptist had nothing better to suggest, but had followed the same
method in his work of reformation. Christ did not purpose to repair the old
garment, but to give a new one.
Lev 26
10 And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.
11 And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor
you.