Levi, Association with Sinners and Outcasts (Luke 5:27-32)
Levi’s calling is jarring in its succinctness. Jesus sees Levi, and tells him, “Follow me.” And Levi leaves everything. We don’t see any discussion, no convincing, no miraculous sign. We can assume that Levi had observed Jesus, heard His teaching, and was prone to want a change, but those are all assumptions. What we have in Luke’s recounting of the event is a stark moment of someone making a radical choice.
It would be wonderful to see more behind the scenes. However, we do get to see some of the aftermath. In Levi’s calling we do not get any “fisher of men” talk. Jesus does not tell him that Levi will “get people exempt from more important things than taxes.” Levi does become a fisher of men, just as Peter had been told. Sometime after his calling, but immediately in the narrative, Levi has organized a great feast with a huge crowd of people he knew, to help them to get to know Jesus.
When the religious elite of the day complain and wonder why Jesus would associate with such sinners, Jesus again reveals more about His mission and ministry.
“Those who are well do not need a doctor, but those who are sick. I have come not to invite the righteous but sinners to repent.”
The religious elite are not well nor righteous in reality. They are self-righteous and do not perceive their need for repentance. Jesus, and by extension, His followers, have been sent with a message to those who sense that they are sick, broken, and in need of grace.
That probably explains Levi’s quick conversion.
It would be wonderful to see more behind the scenes. However, we do get to see some of the aftermath. In Levi’s calling we do not get any “fisher of men” talk. Jesus does not tell him that Levi will “get people exempt from more important things than taxes.” Levi does become a fisher of men, just as Peter had been told. Sometime after his calling, but immediately in the narrative, Levi has organized a great feast with a huge crowd of people he knew, to help them to get to know Jesus.
When the religious elite of the day complain and wonder why Jesus would associate with such sinners, Jesus again reveals more about His mission and ministry.
“Those who are well do not need a doctor, but those who are sick. I have come not to invite the righteous but sinners to repent.”
The religious elite are not well nor righteous in reality. They are self-righteous and do not perceive their need for repentance. Jesus, and by extension, His followers, have been sent with a message to those who sense that they are sick, broken, and in need of grace.
That probably explains Levi’s quick conversion.
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