Mar 2:13-17 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Mark 2:13-17: 2:13-17 This controversy centers on Jesus’ befriending disreputable sinners such as tax collectors and eating with them. Summary for Mark 2:13-15: 2:13-15 Levi was also called Matthew (cp. Matt 9:9-10 ). Certain people are known by two names in the New Testament (e.g., Simon=Peter; Saul=Paul; Judas son of James=Thaddaeus, see study note on Mark 3:18). • This kind of tax collector (Greek telōnēs ) collected sales taxes, customs, and road tolls, in contrast with those who collected the poll tax (12:14 ). Local tax collectors like Levi were hated by other Jews because they often gouged the public (Luke 19:8 ), and as agents of the Romans, they were regarded as traitors. Jesus invited Levi, a tax collector, to follow him, joining Peter, Andrew, James, and John (Mark 1:16-20 ).

Summary for Mark 2:13-17: 2:13-17 ^a This controversy centers on Jesus’ befriending disreputable sinners such as tax collectors and eating with them.
Summary for Mark 2:13-15: 2:13-15 ^b Levi was also called Matthew (cp. Matt 9:9-10 ^c). Certain people are known by two names in the New Testament (e.g., Simon=Peter; Saul=Paul; Judas son of James=Thaddaeus, see study note on Mark 3:18).

• This kind of tax collector (Greek telōnēs) collected sales taxes, customs, and road tolls, in contrast with those who collected the poll tax (12:14 ^d). Local tax collectors like Levi were hated by other Jews because they often gouged the public (Luke 19:8 ^e), and as agents of the Romans, they were regarded as traitors. Jesus invited Levi, a tax collector, to follow him, joining Peter, Andrew, James, and John (Mark 1:16-20 ^f).
2:16 ^g The teachers of religious law who were Pharisees understood Jesus’ act of eating with sinners as intentionally accepting them as friends (Luke 15:1-2 ^h; 19:5 ⁱ, 7 ^j; Acts 11:2-18 ^k; Gal 2:11-12 ^l). Jesus indicated that these tax collectors and sinners were invited to share in the Kingdom of God. In Jesus’ ministry, even Gentiles were invited to share the Kingdom (Mark 5:1-20 ^m; 7:24-30 ⁿ; cp. Matt 8:5-13 ^o; Luke 7:1-10 ^p; John 4:43-54 ^q).
2:17 ^r Jesus answered his opponents with a well-known proverb, comparing himself to a doctor and sinners to sick people. Salvation is for those who know they are sinners, not those who think they are righteous (Luke 16:15 ^s; 18:9 ^t; Rom 3:23 ^u).