LUKE 5:27–32
THE CALL OF LEVI (MATTHEW)
BRIEF INTERPRETATION
Text – Luke 5:27–32
27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.”
28 And leaving everything behind, he rose and followed him.
29 Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at table with them.
30 The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
31 Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.
32 I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”
Historical and Jewish Context
In first-century Judaism, tax collectors were despised figures. They worked for the Roman occupiers and were often associated with corruption and ritual impurity. Because of their collaboration with Gentiles and frequent dishonesty, they were considered public sinners and excluded from respectable religious society. Eating with such people was viewed as sharing in their impurity (cf. Psalm 1:1).
Table fellowship in Jewish culture was deeply symbolic—it signified acceptance, communion, and shared identity. By dining with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus deliberately crosses social and religious boundaries. The Pharisees, devoted to strict observance of the Law and ritual purity, see this as scandalous and incompatible with holiness. Jesus’ response reveals that God’s holiness is expressed through mercy and restoration rather than exclusion.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The call of Levi reveals the radical nature of divine grace. Jesus does not demand prior repentance or moral reform before calling Levi; the call itself initiates conversion. Levi’s immediate response—leaving everything behind—shows that grace evokes freedom and decisive commitment (CCC 1427–1429).
Jesus’ image of Himself as a physician teaches that sin is a spiritual illness requiring healing, not condemnation (CCC 1848). His mission is salvific, aimed at restoring those alienated from God. The banquet anticipates the Eucharistic table, where sinners are invited to conversion and communion. This passage strongly supports the Church’s mission of mercy and evangelization, especially toward those on the margins (CCC 545).
Parallels in Scripture
Matthew 9:9–13 – Parallel account identifying Levi as Matthew
Mark 2:13–17 – Emphasizes Jesus’ call amid public scrutiny
Hosea 6:6 – “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”
Luke 15:1–2 – Jesus criticized for welcoming sinners
1 Timothy 1:15 – Christ came to save sinners
Key Terms
Levi (Matthew) – A tax collector transformed into an apostle
Follow Me – A call to discipleship and total conversion
Tax Collectors and Sinners – Socially and religiously marginalized
Physician – Image of Jesus as healer of sin
Repentance – A turning of heart initiated by grace
Catholic Liturgical Significance
This passage is often proclaimed during Ordinary Time and in penitential contexts. It reinforces the Church’s mission to seek out sinners and call them to conversion. It is especially relevant to the sacrament of Reconciliation and to evangelization efforts focused on those who feel excluded or unworthy.
Conclusion
Jesus calls sinners not after they become righteous, but so that they may become righteous. Levi’s transformation shows that no past is too compromised for God’s grace. True holiness flows from mercy, and true discipleship begins with responding to Christ’s call.
Reflection
Do I believe that Christ calls me as I am, not as I pretend to be?
Am I willing to leave behind what keeps me from following Him fully?
Do I reflect Christ’s mercy toward those society labels as sinners?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You call sinners with a voice of mercy and love. Give me the courage to rise and follow You, leaving behind whatever binds me. Heal my heart, and make me an instrument of Your compassion to others. Amen.
DETAILED INTERPRETATION
INTRODUCTION
Luke 5:27–32 narrates the call of Levi the tax collector and the meal Jesus shares with sinners. In first-century Jewish society, tax collectors were despised because they collaborated with Roman authorities and were often associated with corruption. They were considered ritually unclean and morally compromised. By calling Levi directly and then dining in his home, Jesus deliberately crosses social and religious boundaries, revealing a God who seeks out those on the margins rather than avoiding them.
Historically, table fellowship held deep significance in Jewish culture—it expressed acceptance, communion, and shared identity. The Pharisees’ criticism reflects a belief that holiness required separation from sinners. Jesus’ response reframes holiness itself: He presents God not as one who withdraws from sinners, but as a physician who enters human brokenness to heal it. Levi’s immediate response—leaving everything and following Jesus—shows that grace, when welcomed, leads to radical transformation.
Lk 5:27 — “After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, ‘Follow me.’”
This verse marks another decisive turning point in Jesus’ ministry, shifting from healing to calling. Jesus goes out—a deliberate movement toward those on the margins—and His gaze settles on Levi, a tax collector. The call is brief, direct, and authoritative: “Follow me.” No preconditions are listed; the invitation itself carries transforming power.
Tax collectors were publicly known and widely despised for collaborating with occupying authorities and profiting from the system. By choosing Levi, Jesus reveals the heart of His mission: mercy that seeks out sinners and calls them into new life. The call does not begin with condemnation but with relationship. Discipleship starts when Jesus speaks and the person responds.
Historical and Jewish Context
Tax collectors worked for Roman administration and were associated with corruption and ritual impurity.
They were socially excluded and often barred from synagogue life.
Calling such a person as a disciple would have shocked religious observers and challenged social boundaries.
Catholic Theological Perspective
From a Catholic perspective, this verse illustrates the gratuitous nature of vocation. The Church teaches that Christ calls sinners not because they are worthy, but to make them new (cf. CCC 545, 1427).
Spiritually, Levi’s call shows that Jesus’ authority creates disciples by invitation, not coercion. The word “Follow” implies a total reorientation of life toward Christ.
Key Terms
Tax collector — social and religious outsider
Saw — intentional, merciful gaze of Christ
Follow me — call to discipleship and conversion
Conclusion
Lk 5:27 proclaims that Jesus calls those whom society rejects. His invitation creates a future where there seemed none, revealing a mercy that transforms lives.
Reflection
Do I believe that Christ’s call is meant for me, despite my weaknesses or past? Am I attentive to His invitation when it comes in simple yet demanding words?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You look upon us with mercy and call us to follow You. Give me the courage to rise from where I am, leave what binds me, and walk after You in faith and obedience. Amen.
Lk 5:28 — “And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.”
This verse records Levi’s immediate and wholehearted response to Jesus’ call. There is no dialogue, no hesitation, no conditions. Luke’s language is concise but powerful: leaving everything, he got up, and followed him. What Jesus’ word initiates, obedience completes. Conversion is shown not in emotion, but in decisive action.
Levi’s response mirrors that of the fishermen earlier (Lk 5:11), underscoring a consistent pattern of discipleship in Luke’s Gospel. To follow Jesus means a radical break with the past and a new orientation of life. For Levi, this involves leaving a lucrative but compromised profession. Grace does not negotiate with attachments; it liberates from them.
Historical and Jewish Context
Tax collection was a stable and profitable occupation tied to Roman authority.
Leaving such a post meant relinquishing financial security and social power.
Getting up symbolized a change of status and allegiance, common in call narratives.
Catholic Theological Perspective
From a Catholic perspective, this verse illustrates authentic conversion as both interior and exterior. The Church teaches that conversion entails turning away from sin and turning toward Christ in concrete choices (cf. CCC 1427–1429).
Spiritually, Levi’s action shows that vocation is a gift that demands response. Grace enables what it commands, empowering the disciple to leave behind what once defined him.
Key Terms
Leaving everything — radical detachment
Got up — decisive response to grace
Followed him — new direction of life
Conclusion
Lk 5:28 proclaims that true discipleship is marked by decisive obedience. Encounter with Christ calls for a response that reshapes priorities, identity, and future.
Reflection
What might Christ be asking me to leave behind in order to follow Him more freely? Do I respond promptly to His call, or do I delay out of fear or attachment?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You call us with a word that gives life and freedom. Grant me the grace to rise, to let go of what binds me, and to follow You with an undivided heart. Amen.
Lk 5:29 — “Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them.”
This verse reveals the immediate fruit of Levi’s conversion: joy, gratitude, and mission. Having left everything to follow Jesus, Levi does not withdraw into private devotion; instead, he opens his house and offers a great banquet. Discipleship expresses itself in hospitality. What Levi once used for profit is now placed at the service of communion.
The guest list is significant. Those gathered are tax collectors and others—people on the margins of religious respectability. Levi brings Jesus directly into his former world. Conversion does not erase relationships; it transforms them. The table becomes a place of encounter, where mercy is shared and dignity restored.
Historical and Jewish Context
Banquets were signs of celebration, honor, and social bonding.
Sharing a meal implied acceptance and fellowship.
Tax collectors were socially ostracized; eating with them violated accepted religious boundaries.
Catholic Theological Perspective
From a Catholic perspective, this verse highlights the missionary dimension of conversion. The Church teaches that encountering Christ naturally leads to evangelization and hospitality toward others (cf. CCC 545, 1397).
Spiritually, the banquet anticipates the Eucharistic pattern: Christ enters homes, gathers sinners, and forms a community of mercy. Grace received becomes grace shared.
Key Terms
Great banquet — joy flowing from conversion
House — personal life opened to Christ
At table — communion and acceptance
Conclusion
Lk 5:29 proclaims that following Christ leads to joyful witness. Conversion opens space for others to encounter Jesus through hospitality and shared life.
Reflection
Does my relationship with Christ lead me to joyful witness and generosity? Do I invite others—especially those on the margins—to encounter Jesus through my life and hospitality?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You enter our homes and share table fellowship with sinners. Teach me to open my life to You generously, that others may encounter Your mercy through welcome, joy, and love. Amen.
Lk 5:30 — “But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’”
This verse introduces open criticism of Jesus’ ministry, focusing not on His teaching but on His table fellowship. The Pharisees and scribes complain, revealing discomfort that has now turned vocal. Their objection targets association: eating and drinking signify acceptance and communion. What troubles them most is not doctrine, but mercy extended to those they consider unworthy.
Notably, they address the disciples, not Jesus directly. This indirect challenge exposes unease and an attempt to pressure from the margins. The question assumes a worldview in which holiness is preserved by separation. Jesus’ practice, however, reveals a holiness that transforms by closeness rather than by exclusion.
Historical and Jewish Context
Pharisees emphasized ritual purity and separation from those deemed sinners.
Shared meals implied social and religious solidarity.
Tax collectors were associated with injustice and impurity, making table fellowship scandalous.
Catholic Theological Perspective
From a Catholic perspective, this verse highlights the tension between legalistic righteousness and merciful mission. The Church teaches that Jesus came to restore sinners through mercy, not to reinforce barriers of exclusion (cf. CCC 545).
Spiritually, the verse challenges believers to examine whether their sense of holiness leads to compassion or to distance. True holiness reflects God’s merciful heart.
Key Terms
Complained — resistance to mercy
Eat and drink — communion and acceptance
Sinners — those in need of healing, not exclusion
Conclusion
Lk 5:30 exposes a fundamental divide: separation versus mercy. Jesus’ table fellowship reveals a God who draws near to heal rather than withdraw to judge.
Reflection
Do I measure holiness by distance from others or by love for them? Am I uncomfortable when God’s mercy reaches those I might judge?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You welcome sinners with mercy and love. Purify my heart from judgment, and teach me to reflect Your compassion, so that my life may invite others into healing communion with You. Amen.
Lk 5:31 — “Jesus said to them, ‘Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.’”
With this concise saying, Jesus directly addresses the complaint of the Pharisees and scribes and reframes the entire discussion. He uses a simple and universally understood image: a physician. The logic is clear and unassailable. Doctors are not for those who believe themselves well, but for those who recognize illness. In the same way, Jesus’ mission is directed toward those who know their need.
This statement exposes a deeper spiritual issue. The problem is not sinfulness alone, but the refusal to acknowledge it. Those who consider themselves “healthy” place themselves outside the reach of healing—not because they are without sin, but because they deny their need for mercy. Jesus presents Himself as the healer of wounded humanity, not the confirmer of self-righteousness.
Historical and Jewish Context
Physicians were commonly associated with healing and restoration in everyday life.
Jewish wisdom literature often used bodily health as a metaphor for spiritual well-being.
Illness was widely understood as a condition requiring outside help, not self-sufficiency.
Catholic Theological Perspective
From a Catholic perspective, this verse reveals Christ as the divine physician of souls. The Church teaches that Jesus came to heal humanity wounded by sin and that recognition of one’s sinfulness is the first step toward salvation (cf. CCC 1427, 1846).
Spiritually, Jesus’ words challenge spiritual pride. Grace heals those who humbly admit their need; self-sufficiency closes the door to mercy.
Key Terms
Physician — Christ as healer of soul and body
Healthy — those who presume self-righteousness
Sick — those open to mercy and healing
Conclusion
Lk 5:31 proclaims that Christ’s mission is one of healing, not exclusion. Mercy is offered to those who recognize their need and seek the divine physician.
Reflection
Do I acknowledge my need for Christ’s healing, or do I rely on my own sense of righteousness? Am I open to letting Jesus heal what is wounded within me?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, divine physician, I bring You my sickness of sin and weakness. Heal my heart, free me from pride, and help me to trust completely in Your mercy and restoring love. Amen.
Lk 5:32 — “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
This verse completes Jesus’ response with clarity and purpose. He defines His mission without ambiguity. Jesus does not deny the existence of the righteous; rather, He exposes the illusion of self-righteousness. His call is directed to sinners—those who recognize their need—and its goal is repentance, a real turning of life toward God.
The statement is not an exclusion but an invitation. Jesus reveals that salvation begins with honesty before God. Repentance is not humiliation but healing; not rejection but restoration. By naming sinners as the ones He calls, Jesus reclaims dignity for those marginalized by moral and religious judgment and places responsibility on every listener to examine the truth of their own heart.
Historical and Jewish Context
Calls to repentance were central to Israel’s prophetic tradition (cf. Is 1:16–18; Ez 18:30).
Repentance (teshuvah) meant a concrete turning of life, not merely remorse.
Religious leaders often emphasized separation from sinners rather than their restoration.
Catholic Theological Perspective
From a Catholic perspective, this verse expresses the core of the Gospel. The Church teaches that Christ’s mission is to lead sinners to conversion and reconciliation with God, a mission continued sacramentally in the Church (cf. CCC 1427–1429, 1846).
Spiritually, the verse calls every believer to humility. No one is saved by presumed righteousness; all are saved by grace received through repentance.
Key Terms
Call — invitation to conversion
Sinners — those in need of mercy
Repentance — turning of life toward God
Conclusion
Lk 5:32 proclaims the heart of Jesus’ mission: mercy that calls sinners into conversion and new life. Salvation begins not with denial, but with repentance.
Reflection
Do I see repentance as a gift or a burden? Am I willing to hear Christ’s call personally and allow my life to be turned more fully toward God?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You came to call sinners, not to condemn them. Give me the humility to recognize my need for repentance and the courage to turn my life toward You, trusting in Your mercy and grace. Amen.
CONCLUSION
For believers today, Luke 5:27–32 challenges us to reconsider how we understand mercy and discipleship. Jesus calls ordinary and flawed people into a new way of life, reminding us that no past failure places us beyond God’s reach. The Gospel invites us to examine whether we exclude others through judgment rather than drawing them toward healing love.
This passage also affirms that repentance is a response to grace, not a prerequisite for God’s love. Jesus seeks sinners precisely to restore them. As disciples, we are called to reflect this same mercy—welcoming, healing, and guiding others toward conversion and new life in Christ.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You call sinners with compassion and transform their lives with mercy. Thank You for seeking us when we are lost and broken. Help us to respond generously to Your call and to share Your healing love with others. May our lives reflect the joy of being forgiven and renewed by Your grace. Amen.