They were highly indignant that one who called himself a Jew should mingle with publicans. Though they refused to acknowledge him the Messiah, and would accept none of his teachings, yet they could not shut their eyes to the fact that he had great influence over the people; this being the case they were chagrined that he should, by his example, ignore their prejudices and traditions. When Jesus called Matthew to follow him their anger knew no bounds that he should thus honor a hated publican. They openly attacked the disciples on the subject, and accused them of eating with publicans and sinners. {2SP 188.3}

De var meget fortørnede over, at en, som kalde sig selv en jøde, skulle holde selskab med toldere. Selv om de ikke anerkendte ham som Messias og ikke ville tage imod hans lære, så kunne de dog ikke undgå at se, at han havde stor indflydelse over folket. Derfor blev de fortørnede over, at han ved sit eksempel tilsidesatte deres fordomme og sagn. Da Jesus kaldte Mattæus og bød ham at følge med, blev de meget forbitrede over at han således ville ære en af disse foragtede toldere. De stred med disciplene om denne sag og anklagede dom, fordi de spiste med toldere og syndere.