27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. 29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:27-32)
Here we see that the Lord Jesus called Levi, who is Matthew, the author of the Gospel of Matthew. Levi was a tax collector, and at that time, tax collectors were Jews who collected taxes for the Roman government. They were considered traitors by the Jews, they often overcharged and pocketed the money, so the Jews disliked them. Here we see Levi hosting a great banquet for Jesus at home, inviting many tax collectors and others. The Pharisees and scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus replied, the healthy do not need a doctor, but the sick do. He did not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners. The sick and sinners came to Jesus and were healed, confessed their sins and repented, and Jesus forgave them.” The Pharisees, however, were self-righteous, did not believe in Jesus, and were often hostile towards him. In a parallel passage, Jesus said, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” He has mercy on sinners, calls them to repentance, and forgives their sins. He also wants us to have mercy and forgive others. May God bless you and your family!
