27After these things he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." [5:28] And leaving everything, he got up and followed him. [5:29] And Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others reclining with them. [5:30] And the Pharisees and their scribes were grumbling against his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" [5:31] And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. [5:32] I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
LUK 5:27-32
Jesus Calls Levi
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Judea, tax collectors like Levi were deeply despised. They were often Jews who collaborated with the Roman Empire, collecting taxes for Rome while enriching themselves through extortion. This made them social and religious outcasts, viewed as traitors and sinners. The Pharisees and scribes, who upheld strict purity codes and religious observance, saw associating with such individuals as morally compromising. When Jesus calls Levi and dines with him and other tax collectors, it challenges these social and religious boundaries. The (banquet) Levi hosts is a public event, where reclining at the table signifies fellowship and equality. The Pharisees’ (grumbling) reflects their discomfort with Jesus’ disregard for purity norms and his association with (sinners), a term that here denotes those outside the bounds of religious respectability. Jesus’ response reframes the issue, emphasizing his mission to those in need rather than adherence to social or religious hierarchies.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
LUK 5:27
- KJV
- And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
- BSB
- After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him,
- Koinōnos
- After these things he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me.
LUK 5:28
- KJV
- And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
- BSB
- and Levi got up, left everything, and followed Him.
- Koinōnos
- And leaving everything, he got up and followed him.
LUK 5:29
- KJV
- And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
- BSB
- Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them.
- Koinōnos
- And Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others reclining with them.
LUK 5:30
- KJV
- But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
- BSB
- But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesusʼ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
- Koinōnos
- And the Pharisees and their scribes were grumbling against his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?
LUK 5:31
- KJV
- And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
- BSB
- Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
- Koinōnos
- And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
LUK 5:32
- KJV
- I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
- BSB
- I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
- Koinōnos
- I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 5:27
- a tax collector:The term translated 'a tax collector' referred to someone who bought the right to collect taxes from the Roman government. This often led to corruption, as they would collect more than required and keep the difference, making them deeply unpopular and socially ostracized.
LUK 5:29
- a banquet:The word translated 'a banquet' implies a large, formal meal or reception, often held to celebrate a significant event, rather than a casual dinner.
LUK 5:30
- were grumbling:The word translated 'were grumbling' suggests a low, continuous murmur of discontent or disapproval, often expressed in private rather than openly confronting someone.
- sinners:The word translated 'sinners' in this context often referred to those who were considered outside the religious and social norms of the community, not just people who committed individual sins.