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November 28, 2021

Luke 5:27-32

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.”

Read Luke 5:27-28

  1. This passage begins with “After this….” What are the last two things that happened in Luke 5 prior to this passage? Hold on to this idea for later.
  2. If you are not already aware of the significance and implications of Levi being a tax collector, check this out: Tax Collectors in Jesus’s Day - pursueGOD.org (https://www.pursuegod.org/tax-collectors-in-jesus-day/). Briefly summarize the way tax collectors were viewed in Jesus’ day.
  3. Jesus spoke two words to Levi, and Levi left everything to follow him. Why do you imagine Levi was so willing to drop everything for a two-word request? The text does not answer this question, so we’re all just speculating and imagining on this one.
  4. What do you imagine was included in the ‘everything’ that Levi left behind to follow Jesus? Have you had to leave anything behind in your own journey of following Jesus?

Read Luke 5:29-30

  1. By verse 29 Jesus’ invitation to a single tax collector (Levi) became a house party for a whole bunch of tax collectors. To the best of your understanding, why was this a problem for the religious leaders?

Read Luke 5:31-32

  1. How is what Jesus says in verse 31 connected to what the disciples have observed earlier in the chapter (refer to question 1 above)?
  2. It is clear that Jesus is not scandalized by the tax collectors and that he is happy to spend time with them. He connects with them right where they are. That said, he also has a very specific plan and agenda for his time with them as well. What is that agenda? What are the implications of this for the way that we show God’s love to those who are not yet following Jesus?