Luke 5:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.

NIV: Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

NASB: And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them.

CSB: Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were guests with them.

NLT: Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them.

KJV: And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

NKJV: Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them.

While on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (Mark 2:13), Jesus saw Levi, also called Matthew (Matthew 9:9), who was sitting in his tax collector booth. Tax collectors in that era were locals who took money from their countrymen for the Roman occupiers. They were also allowed to line their own pockets—and many fell into corruption. Instead of confronting Levi for any particular sins, Jesus calls him to be one of His primary disciples. Levi leaves everything and follows (Luke 5:27–28). As new believers often do, he invites his friends and acquaintances to meet his Lord.

In many cultures, to eat with someone is a significant sign of friendship. There's an implied sense of acceptance and peace in the act of sharing a meal. Jesus has already shocked the Pharisees and scribes by claiming to forgive the sins of the man who was paralyzed (Luke 5:17–26). Now, they are disgusted that He eats with those they see as thieving traitors and sinners. Jesus is eroding His reputation among established religious leaders. They find it increasingly difficult to accept Him as a legitimate spiritual authority, despite His ability to perform healing miracles (Luke 5:30).

The people at the feast don't care about disapproval from scribes and Pharisees. They're happy Jesus—empowered by God to heal and expel demons—is willing to be in their sinful presence. Jesus doesn't care about disapproval, either. He hasn't come to gather a group of overly religious legalists who think they are so righteous they don't need Him. He has come to call those who know they are sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). To do that, He has to be where the sinners are and invite them into fellowship with Him.

The King James Version uses "publican" for "tax collector." The terms mean the same thing.

Luke 5:29–32 records the Pharisees' criticism of Jesus' choice to eat with those society deemed immoral. It is the first of four altercations between Jesus and the Pharisees and their scribes: two regarding unseemly celebrations and two in tension with the scribes' extra-biblical regulations for the Sabbath (Luke 5:33—6:11). These four incidents come between Jesus' call of Levi, the tax-collector, and His call of the remaining disciples. The story of Jesus eating with sinners is also found in Matthew 9:10–13 and Mark 2:15–17.

Luke 5 continues Jesus' Galilean Ministry (Luke 4:14—9:50). The passage alternates calls to discipleship with miracles and teachings which demonstrate what discipleship entails. Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, and their business partners, James and John, to follow Him and make more disciples. Then Jesus makes a man with leprosy ceremonially clean. He forgives the sins of a paralytic. After He calls Levi to follow Him, Jesus celebrates instead of fasting. This draws critical questions from the crowd. The religious leaders consider Jesus' actions blasphemous. His message of forgiveness, faith, and repentance cannot be contained by their tradition.

Jesus has already proved He can expel demons, heal ailments, and reveal the kingdom of God (Luke 4:31–44). In this chapter, He begins to separate His followers from His detractors. This begins with calling the first five disciples and emphasizing faith and repentance over religious tradition. He will drive home the point by treating the Sabbath as a blessing rather than a burden (Luke 6:1–11). After formally inviting the Twelve to follow Him, Jesus will explain to a crowd what discipleship looks like and invite them to build their lives on Him (Luke 6:12–49). In chapter 7, Jesus champions Gentiles and the marginalized.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.