JESUS THE DOCTOR FOR SICK SINNERS

Passage: Luke 5:27-32

Key verse: 5:31-32

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

First, follow me (27-28). It is unusual for Jesus to call a tax collector, but he did. Jesus knew that Levi could not come to him so he came by Levi's tax office. He must have known how miserable he was despite the good pay he made. As a tax collector, Levi sold his countrymen and his conscience to make a living. Jesus gave him just two words that would forever change his life: 'Follow me.' Jesus gives sinners new life direction. 'Follow me' means 'Come and be my disciple.' Levi got up, left everything and followed him (28). Second, I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (29-32). Levi was so happy that he held a banquet for Jesus to celebrate his new life. The Pharisees gave Jesus a hard time for eating and drinking with sinners. But he made it clear why he did so. A doctor has to see sick patients to heal them. Likewise, Jesus had to visit sinners in order to love them and heal them. Jesus did not come to call self-righteous people but needy people who know they are sinners in need of a Savior.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me and calling me to be a disciple. Help me to follow you and learn your shepherd life for sinners.

One Word: Jesus came to call sinners