The Calling of Levi and Eating with Sinners
Luke 5:27-32
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Luke.5.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- μετα: PREP
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- εξηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- εθεασατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- τελωνην: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ονοματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- Λευιν: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- καθημενον: VERB,pres,mid,ptc,acc,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τελωνιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω·Ακολουθει: PRON,dat,sg,3 + VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
Parallels
- Matthew 9:9 (verbal): Parallel account of the same event (calling of the tax collector Matthew); Jesus issues the same summons 'Follow me' to a tax collector at his post.
- Mark 2:14 (verbal): Very similar retelling of the calling of Levi (Matthew) at the tax office with the identical call to 'Follow me'—a near-verbatim synoptic parallel.
- Mark 1:16-20 (structural): Earlier synoptic pattern of Jesus calling ordinary workers (fishermen) with the same imperative 'Follow me,' showing a recurring discipleship-call motif.
- Luke 5:1-11 (structural): Immediate Lukan context: Jesus' earlier calling of Simon, Andrew, James, and John in the same chapter—establishes the pattern of personal summons and leaving one's former life.
- Luke 19:1-10 (thematic): Call of Zacchaeus (another tax collector) thematically parallels Levi's call: both narratives focus on Jesus' outreach to tax collectors and the resulting repentance/inclusion.
Alternative generated candidates
- And afterward he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth.
- And after these things he went out, and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me."
Luke.5.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- καταλιπων: PART,aor,act,nom,sg,m
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- αναστας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ηκολουθει: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 4:20 (verbal): The two disciples (including Simon Peter) 'left their nets and followed him'—a near-verbatim Synoptic parallel to leaving everything to follow Jesus.
- Mark 1:18 (verbal): Mark's account records the immediate leaving of the nets and following Jesus, closely matching Luke 5:28’s emphasis on prompt abandonment of livelihood.
- Luke 18:28 (quotation): Peter later declares, 'Behold, we have left everything and followed you,' echoing and self-referentially recalling the abandoning described in Luke 5:28.
- Mark 10:29-30 (thematic): Jesus' promise to those who have 'left house or brothers or sisters...for my sake and the gospel' thematically parallels the sacrificial leaving described in Luke 5:28 and articulates the reward for such discipleship.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said to him, "Follow me." And he left everything, rose up, and followed him.
- And leaving everything behind, he rose up and followed him.
Luke.5.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- εποιησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δοχην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- μεγαλην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- Λευις: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- οικια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αυτου·και: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- οχλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- πολυς: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- τελωνων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αλλων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ησαν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- μετ᾽αυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,3
- κατακειμενοι: PART,pres,mid/pass,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 9:10-11 (verbal): Synoptic parallel: Matthew (Levi) hosts a great feast for Jesus with many tax collectors and sinners reclining with them; closely parallels Luke's wording and scene.
- Mark 2:15 (verbal): Synoptic parallel: Mark recounts Jesus eating at Levi's house with many tax collectors and sinners, matching Luke's report of the banquet.
- Luke 5:30 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation in Luke: Pharisees and their scribes complain about Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners—directly connected to the feast described in 5:29.
- Luke 7:36-50 (thematic): Related dinner-scene motif: Jesus is anointed at a Pharisee's meal and criticized for associating with 'sinners,' highlighting the theme of meals as contexts for grace and controversy over Jesus' fellowship with outcasts.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Levi made him a great feast in his house; and many tax collectors and others were reclining with them.
- And Levi made for him a great feast in his house; and there was a great company of tax collectors and others reclining with them.
Luke.5.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εγογγυζον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- Φαρισαιοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- γραμματεις: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- προς: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- μαθητας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- λεγοντες·Δια: PART,prs,act,nom,pl,m
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- μετα: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- τελωνων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αμαρτωλων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- εσθιετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- πινετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
Parallels
- Matthew 9:11 (quotation): Pharisees ask Jesus' disciples why their teacher eats with tax collectors and sinners—near-verbatim parallel to Luke 5:30's complaint.
- Mark 2:16 (quotation): Scribes and Pharisees question Jesus' association with tax collectors and sinners; closely parallels Luke 5:30's wording and context.
- Matthew 9:12-13 (verbal): Jesus' reply ('Those who are well have no need of a physician... I came to call sinners') is the direct verbal/thematic response to the complaint recorded in Luke 5:30.
- Luke 15:1-2 (thematic): States that tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to Jesus and that the Pharisees and scribes grumbled—same theme of criticism for Jesus' association with sinners.
- Luke 7:34 (allusion): Summarizes a recurring charge ('the Son of Man came eating and drinking...') and the related criticism of Jesus' conduct—an allusive echo of the complaint in Luke 5:30.
Alternative generated candidates
- But the Pharisees and their scribes murmured to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"
- But the Pharisees and their scribes murmured at his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"
Luke.5.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- αποκριθεις: VERB,aor,pass,ptc,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- προς: PREP
- αυτους·Ου: PRO,acc,pl,3+PART
- χρειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- υγιαινοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- ιατρου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- αλλα: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- κακως: ADV
- εχοντες·: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 9:12 (verbal): Near-identical wording in the Matthean parallel: 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.' (synoptic verbal parallel).
- Mark 2:17 (verbal): Mark's parallel contains the same physician-illustration and closely matching language, immediately followed by the statement about calling sinners.
- Luke 5:32 (structural): Immediate sequel in Luke explaining the reason for the physician image: 'I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance,' clarifying Jesus' mission.
- Matthew 9:13 (quotation): In Matthew's parallel Jesus links the physician saying to the call of sinners and cites Hosea 6:6 ('I desire mercy, not sacrifice'), providing the prophetic and moral rationale for the remark.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
- And Jesus answering said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but the sick have need.
Luke.5.32 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εληλυθα: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,sg
- καλεσαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- δικαιους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- αλλα: CONJ
- αμαρτωλους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- εις: PREP
- μετανοιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Mark 2:17 (verbal): Nearly identical wording—Jesus' saying appears in Mark in the same context of eating with tax collectors and sinners.
- Matthew 9:13 (quotation): Matthew preserves the saying with the added citation of Hosea 6:6 ('I desire mercy, not sacrifice'), linking Jesus' mission to mercy toward sinners.
- Luke 19:10 (thematic): Summarizes Jesus' mission as seeking and saving the lost, echoing Luke 5:32's emphasis on calling sinners to repentance.
- 1 Timothy 1:15 (thematic): Paul's summary that Christ came to save sinners parallels Luke's claim about Jesus' purpose and highlights the salvific focus on sinners.
- Ezekiel 33:11 (allusion): God's declaration that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but desires their turning (repentance) provides an Old Testament backdrop to Jesus' call to sinners.
Alternative generated candidates
- I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
- I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
And after these things he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And leaving all, he rose up and followed him. And Levi made him a great banquet in his house; and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining with them. But the Pharisees and their scribes murmured to his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus answering said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."