Mar 2:16-18 | TNotes | STEP | 2:16 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 ; 19:5 , 7 ; Acts 11:2-18 ; Gal 2:11-12 ). 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 ; 7:24-30 ; cp. Matt 8:5-13 ; Luke 7:1-10 ; John 4:43-54 ).

2:16 ^a 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 ^b; 19:5 ^c, 7 ^d; Acts 11:2-18 ^e; Gal 2:11-12 ^f). 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 ^g; 7:24-30 ^h; cp. Matt 8:5-13 ⁱ; Luke 7:1-10 ^j; John 4:43-54 ^k).
2:17 ^l 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 ^m; 18:9 ⁿ; Rom 3:23 ^o).
Summary for Mark 2:18-22: 2:18-22 ^p This controversy deals with fasting, which Jesus did not practice with his disciples. The Pharisees regularly fasted two days a week, on Mondays and Thursdays (Luke 18:12 ^q), and Jews often fasted when mourning or specially seeking the Lord’s favor (Lev 16:29-31 ^r; 1 Sam 31:13 ^s; 2 Sam 1:12 ^t; 12:21-23 ^u; Ezra 8:23 ^v; Esth 4:3 ^w; Matt 6:16 ^x).