Mark 2:17
15 While Jesus was dining at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples—for there were many who followed Him.
16 When the scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting. So people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?”
19 Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? As long as He is with them, they cannot fast.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
- ASV
- And when Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.
- DARBY
- And Jesus having heard [it] says to them, They that are strong have not need of a physician, but those who are ill. I have not come to call righteous [men], but sinners.
- BLB
- And Jesus, having heard, says to them, “Those being strong have no need of a physician, rather those being ill. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
- ÅB
- Og da Jesus hørte det, sa han til dem: De friske trenger ikke til lege, men de som har ondt; jeg er ikke kommet for å kalle rettferdige, men for å kalle syndere.
- OTB
- Da Jesus hørte dette, sa han til dem: "Det er ikke de som er friske som trenger lege, men de som er syke. Jeg er ikke kommet for å kalle rettferdige, men syndere."
- B1930
- Og da Jesus hørte det, sa han til dem: De friske trenger ikke til læge, men de som har ondt; jeg er ikke kommet for å kalle rettferdige, men for å kalle syndere.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Luke 15:7
In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
Read in contextMatthew 9:12–13
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
Read in contextLuke 19:10
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Read in contextLuke 5:31–32
Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
Read in context1 Timothy 1:15–16
This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
Read in contextTitus 3:3–7
For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
Read in contextRomans 5:6–8
For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Read in contextIsaiah 55:7
Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
Read in context