Luke 5:27-32
Summary for Luke 5:27-32: 5:27-32 a The call of Levi led to Jesus’ second conflict with the religious leaders, and it introduced the idea that Jesus had come to save sinners. 5:27 b tax collector: See study note on 3:12.• Levi’s tax collector’s booth was probably a toll booth for goods in transit.
• Levi was also called Matthew (Matt 9:9 c; see profile for Matthew (Levi) at end of chapter).
5:29 d with Jesus as the guest of honor: Matthew introduced Jesus to his friends and colleagues to honor Jesus for calling him as a disciple. It was common in the ancient world to repay honor with honor.
5:30 e Meals were rituals of social status in the ancient world, and eating with someone meant social acceptance of that person. The Pharisees refused to eat with tax collectors and other sinners, or to enter their homes, believing that this would defile them. They expected Jesus, as a rabbi, to do the same. Jesus shattered social norms by dining with sinners and allowing sinful people to touch him (5:29 f; 7:39 g; 15:1 h). The religious leaders severely criticized him for this and derisively called him “a friend of tax collectors and other sinners” (7:34 i).
Summary for Luke 5:31-32: 5:31-32 j Jesus responded that, like a doctor, his mission was to work with sick people, not the healthy. Jesus was not called to minister to self-righteous people, but to those who recognized their spiritual need for God’s grace and healing.
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