JESUS CALLS LEVI

Passage: Luke 5:27-32

Key verse: 32

NIV

Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners(A)

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,”(B) Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.(C)

29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors(D) and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect(E) complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”(F)

31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”(G)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Calls Levi

27 (A)After this he went out and saw (B)a tax collector named (C)Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And (D)leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company (E)of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and (F)their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, (G)“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 (H)I have not come to call the righteous (I)but sinners (J)to repentance.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Follow me (27-28)

Levi had gotten rich by collaborating with Rome. He thought that money could make him happy, so he aggressively went after it. He became rich, but money didn't make him happy. He thought there was no way out of the lonely, selfish, miserable life he was trapped in. Then Jesus passed by his tax booth and called him. He turned from his old life, left everything and followed Jesus. This is repentance.

2. I came to call sinners (29-32)

Levi was so full of joy that he gave a party to celebrate his new life. He invited Jesus and his disciples, and all his fellow tax collectors. The Pharisees were indignant. How could a righteous man like Jesus go to such a party? But Jesus explained by telling them why he had come into the world. He didn't come for self-righteous people; he came to call sinners to repentance.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for calling me to repent and live a new life as your disciple.

One Word: Jesus came to forgive sinners