13He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd came to him, and he was teaching them. [2:14] And passing by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And rising up, he followed him. [2:15] And it happened that he was reclining at table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples — for there were many, and they followed him. [2:16] And the scribes of the Pharisees, seeing that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" [2:17] And hearing this, Jesus said to them: "Those who are strong have no need of a physician, but those who are sick do. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
MRK 2:13-17
Jesus Calls Levi
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Galilee, tax collectors like Levi were deeply despised. They were seen as collaborators with Roman occupation, extracting money from their own people for foreign rulers. Their work rendered them ritually impure and socially ostracized, often grouped with 'sinners'—those who failed to observe Jewish law. The (tax booth) symbolized Roman exploitation and Jewish betrayal. For Jesus to call Levi, a tax collector, to follow him, and then to recline at table with him and other tax collectors and sinners, was scandalous. Reclining at meals was a gesture of fellowship and equality, reserved for those of shared social or religious standing. The scribes and Pharisees, guardians of Jewish purity and tradition, viewed such actions as a direct challenge to their authority and the boundaries of holiness. Jesus’ choice to eat with tax collectors and sinners would have been perceived as a deliberate affront to the purity codes and social hierarchies of the time.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
MRK 2:13
- KJV
- And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.
- BSB
- Once again Jesus went out beside the sea. All the people came to Him, and He taught them there.
- Koinōnos
- He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd came to him, and he was teaching them.
MRK 2:14
- KJV
- And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
- BSB
- As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.
- Koinōnos
- And passing by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And rising up, he followed him.
MRK 2:15
- KJV
- And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
- BSB
- While Jesus was dining at Leviʼs house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples—for there were many who followed Him.
- Koinōnos
- And it happened that he was reclining at table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples — for there were many, and they followed him.
MRK 2:16
- KJV
- And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
- BSB
- 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?”
- Koinōnos
- And the scribes of the Pharisees, seeing that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?
MRK 2:17
- 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.
- 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.”
- Koinōnos
- And hearing this, Jesus said to them: "Those who are strong have no need of a physician, but those who are sick do. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MRK 2:14
- tax booth:The word translated 'tax booth' refers to a customs house or office where taxes and tolls were collected, often at a border or port, making it a place of significant public interaction and financial transaction.
MRK 2:15
- that:The term used here for 'tax collector' referred to someone who bought the right to collect taxes from the Roman government, often leading to corruption and extortion, making them deeply unpopular and socially ostracized.
- and:The word translated 'reclining' describes the common practice in the ancient world of dining while reclining on couches, rather than sitting in chairs, which was a posture of intimacy and fellowship.
MRK 2:16
- scribes:The word translated 'scribes' refers to highly educated Jewish scholars and legal experts who interpreted and taught the Law, holding significant religious and social authority.