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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_9:10-13
10Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?" 12But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,'for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Mat_9:10 This referred to Matthew's house, not Jesus' . Apparently the giving of a banquet after a meaningful decision in life was quite common because Zaccheus, another tax-collector, does the same thing (cf. Luke 19). "Notorious sinners" would refer basically to those outcasts of Jewish society who could not perform the meticulous details of the Mosaic Law as amplified in the oral tradition of rabbinical Judaism. That some of them were openly immoral people is possible, but again, it may have been that their trade or occupation was unacceptable to the Jewish leaders (i.e., shepherds, tanners, etc.).
The phrase "took their seats" meant "reclined." The people during this historical period reclined on their left elbows when they ate. Only in Egypt did people sit at a table to eat.
Mat_9:11 "when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples" These Pharisees were present at the dinner, but were not a part of the dinner. It seems unusual but in the ancient world anyone could come and stand around the walls or look in the windows and participate in the conversation without being an official guest at the dinner. Apparently "the Pharisees" was another name for "the scribes" who were mentioned earlier in this context. They were a group of committed Jews who followed a particular tradition which affirmed the oral tradition of the Jews (the Talmud). Notice that they confronted the disciples and not Jesus Himself. Jesus, by eating with these notorious sinners, was expressing fellowship and friendship. John the Baptist had come earlier as an ascetic and the Jewish leaders had rejected him and now they rejected Jesus who came as a more social person (cf. Mat_11:19; Luk_7:34). They even accused Jesus of being a "wine-bibber" which meant a "glutton" or "one who over-drinks." Quite often religious conservatism has an ugly and self-righteous side. For a full discussion of the origin and theology of the Pharisees, see note at Mat_22:15.
Mat_9:12 "But when Jesus heard this, He said" On this occasion Jesus obviously did not read the minds of the Pharisees (cf. v.4). Either it was conveyed to Him what they were saying or He heard them Himself.
▣ "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick"This does not imply that the Pharisees were without sin; rather it was a sarcastic response.
Mat_9:13 "But go and learn what this means" This is a quote from Hos_6:6 (as is Mat_12:7). This verse began with an aorist imperative phrase which was an idiom that the rabbis used to tell their students to study a particular issue. Mat_9:13 is unique to Matthew's Gospel.
▣ "for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners" Luk_5:32, which is the Synoptic parallel to this account, adds "to repentance." Matthew's account, although it does not specifically record this, implied it. The two necessary responses for people to be right with God were repentance and faith (cf. Mar_1:15; Act_3:16; Act_3:19; Act_20:21). Jesus even asserted that unless people repent they shall perish (cf. Luk_13:5). Repentance basically is a turning from self, sin, and rebellion and turning to God's will and way for one's life. It is not so much an emotion as it is a change in priority and lifestyle. It is willingness to change. See Special Topic at Mat_3:2.
The verb "call" (kaleô) can be understood as " invite" (cf. Mat_22:2-10 and Luk_14:16-25; Joh_2:2; Rev_19:9). In a theological sense this accentuates the covenant concept.
1. God invites (divine call)
2. humans must respond (with initial and continuing faith, repentance, obedience, and perseverance)
See hyperlink at Mat_24:22.