JESUS CALLS LEVI

Passage: Mark 2:13-17

Key verse: 17

NIV

Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners(A)

13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him,(B) and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,”(C) Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees(D) saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”(E)

17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”(F)

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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

13 He went out again beside the sea, and (A)all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 (B)And as he passed by, he saw (C)Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many (D)tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And (E)the scribes of[a] the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, (F)“Why does he eat[b] with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. (G)I came not to call the righteous, (H)but sinners.”

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 2:16 Some manuscripts and
  2. Mark 2:16 Some manuscripts add and drink
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 (13-14)

Tax collectors represent aggressive sinners, the kind of selfish people who get what they want by any means, regardless of who they hurt or how many enemies they make in the process. Levi the tax collector was rich--but he paid the price. He was branded as a quisling be his own people, he was probably not respected by his wife and children, and he was lonely. When Jesus called him to repent and begin a new life, he got up and followed. And he was full of joy.

2. I came to call sinners (15-17)

When Jesus was criticized for joining the joyful feast of tax collectors and sinners, he stated clearly his purpose in coming into the world. He did not come to live like a self-righteous Pharisee. He came to be a friend of sinners. He came to die for the sins of the world.

Prayer: Lord, forgive my calculating mind, and help me to hear your call and follow you simply, as Levi did.

One Word: Jesus came to call sinners.