Mark 2:15

2:15 As Jesus ¹  was having a meal ²  in Levi’s ³  home, many tax collectors ⁴  and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.

Mark 5:19

5:19 But ⁵  Jesus ⁶  did not permit him to do so. Instead, he said to him, “Go to your home and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, ⁷  that he had mercy on you.”

Mark 10:29

10:29 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, ⁸  there is no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel

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¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

² tn Grk “As he reclined at table.”

sn As Jesus was having a meal. 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.

³ tn Grk “his.”

⁴ sn The tax collectors would bid to collect taxes for the Roman government and then add a surcharge, which they kept. Since tax collectors worked for Rome, they were viewed as traitors to their own people and were not well liked.

⁵ tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

⁶ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁷ sn Jesus instructs the man to declare what the Lord has done for him, in contrast to the usual instructions (e.g., 1:44; 5:43) to remain silent. Here in Gentile territory Jesus allowed more open discussion of his ministry. D. L. Bock (Luke [BECNT], 1:781) suggests that with few Jewish religious representatives present, there would be less danger of misunderstanding Jesus’ ministry as political.

⁸ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”