Matthew 9:11-13

[asthelordwills]

Matthew 9:11-13 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 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.

When Jesus was eating with sinners, what was he doing with them? He surely wasn't there to fellowship in their ways, but knowing they were lost He was there to call them to repentance. How can we apply this to our life?

[jabel232002]

I remember jesus told the pharisees this besides what you posted, they asked,"Why do you sit with the tax collecters and sinners?" Jesus said," Those who need me are not the ones who are well off to do. They are the ones who are sick and unworthy of being in your(Pharisees) sight."

We can apply this to our lives by eating with the people who need repentance. Create a friendship and let them know that you will be there for them and use boldness from the lord to tell them.

( I have a friend like this. I have found some times to mention what god would do. She tries to do some wrong things.)

[asthelordwills]

Honestly, there really is a fine line on this subject. Let me posts some examples...

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

As far as the verse Matthew 9:11-13, you can't really say that because he was eating with sinners that he concidered himself a "close friend in fellowship".

Jesus is quoted saying, John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. The if (ean in greek)seems to be emphasised

This would denote a special friendship that Jesus has with those that obey what Jesus commanded.

Something really interesting to note is this, In John 15:14 (above) The greek word for friend Jesus used is "philos" which is a type of friend that you are close to, a fond friend.

Jesus uses this word a few times, here are some examples.

Luke 12:4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

Jesus is speaking to his disciples only here, and he refers to them as "philos".

Matthew 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

The word friend here is philos, because Jesus is talking about how he is accused of being a gluttonous, drunkard, who is philos (An intimate friend) of sinners.

There is also one similar to this in Luke 7:34 where Jesus used philos.

In Luke 11:5-8 Jesus speaks of how close friends act to one another and again uses the word philos.

In Luke 14:8-11 Jesus uses the word philos when a close friend asks another friend to move closer at the wedding.

In John 11:11 Jesus uses philos when talking about Lazarus, who Jesus raised from the dead.

Now let me get to the reason why I am laying all this out. There is scripture where Jesus uses a completely different word for friend.

Jesus was speaking to his disciples (all except Judas (the betrayer) as Jesus sent him away) when he said "Ye are my friends (philos), if ye do whatsoever I command you."

When Judas came back, he had company. He then betrayed Jesus with a kiss. And what did Jesus say??

Matthew 26:49-50 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

Jesus obviously knew why he had come, so why did he call him "friend" and ask that question? For the same reason why God asked Cain in the garden where Abel was, God already knew.

What is shocking more is that Jesus didn't use the word "philos" for friend here, he used "hetairos" which is a word for friend that loses all it's intimacy and is more like acquaintance in our English.

You will also note "hetairos" in other scriptures help to understand the difference between friend/s (philos) and friend/s (hetairos). I will list some quickly now...

Mt 20:13- hetairos is used here by the householder refering to the workers who are jealous and confront the householder for paying the workers who came later the same amount

Mt 22:12- hetairos is again used by the king to the man who did not wear a proper wedding garment, and after calling him friend "hetairos" he ordered the man to be bound up and cast into outer darkness.

So you can see in what way "hetairos" is different than "philos".

What Jesus had said really must have pricked Judas's heart, he knew then that Jesus knew that he had betrayed Him (if he didn't realise this earlier when he dipped his bread).

One thing to note, Jesus spent ALOT of time with Judas. He was afterall one of the disciples, yet Jesus only considered him a "heiteros" in the end, but those that obey Jesus's commands will be a "philos" of Jesus.

What should this say about our relationships with believers and non-believers? People have often concidered it a contradiction that Jesus ate with sinners, yet we are commanded not to have fellowship with unbelievers. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

This is not a contradiction. We are "philos" with believers and "hetairos" with those unbelievers we aquaint ourselves with and minister to. There is a big difference.

Hope you profit from reading this.