¹⁶ When the ·teachers of the law [scribes] who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they asked his followers, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” [^CTax collectors were despised because they worked for the Roman rulers and were notorious for corruption and extortion.]

¹⁷ Jesus heard this and said to them, “It is not the healthy people who need a doctor, but the sick. I did not come to ·invite [call] ·good people [the righteous; ^Cmeaning the “self-righteous” who feel no need to repent] but to ·invite [call] sinners [^Cthose who recognize their need to repent].”

Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting^(A)

¹⁸ Now the ·followers [disciples] of John [^Cthe Baptist; 1:4–8] and the Pharisees often fasted [^Cgiving up eating for spiritual purposes]. ·Some people [^LThey] came to Jesus and said, “Why do John’s ·followers [disciples] and the ·followers [disciples] of the Pharisees often fast, but your ·followers [disciples] don’t?”