Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth. “Follow me,” he said to him. And he got up and followed him, leaving everything behind.
Then Levi gave a great banquet in his house for Jesus, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them. But the Pharisees and their experts in the law complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “Those who are well don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” — Luke 5:27-32
Did you ever stop to wonder, What did Jesus say to Levi before He said “follow Me”? I happen to believe the account is truncated for narrative’s sake.
Levi was a tax collector, one of the truly despised government workers in Israel. As a tax collector it’s very possible (and probable according to tax collecting lore), he is perhaps a religious Jew, but not a godly man.
Notwithstanding, the Romans wanted people on their payroll who were ruthless and hard-boiled.
Their job was to bring in taxes and be harsh about it. Beyond that, tax collectors were known for bilking citizens out of more money than they owed. Anything above taxes the collector pocketed—a built in tip-jar, if you will.
That’s the kind of man Jesus was addressing.
So, I find it doubtful Jesus simply said, “Follow Me” and Levi gave it all up without good reason.
Perhaps Levi knew of Jesus by now, and may have been curious about this emissary of God. I don’t doubt for a moment that the Holy Spirit had been working on Levi’s heart and he’d begun to question his role in life. Jesus may have even addressed that very issue.
Anyway, enough musing. We, like Levi, were all involved in lives that dishonored God and had to have our hearts softened before being able to hear Jesus say, “Follow Me.”.
The truly ironic aspect of the story is that Jesus gets invited to Levi’s house and the religious leaders take umbrage with His choice of dining companions.
True to His nature, Jesus replies in a way that makes two points:
1. Jesus was sent to heal those who needed a spiritual “physician”.
2. The Pharisees were not as righteous as they thought they were. They were every bit as in need of Jesus, “the doctor” as the “sinners”, but couldn’t/wouldn’t see the truth.
The worldly represent those who are in need of a physician.
The arrogant, the atheist, the agnostic, the self-righteous are those who need Him just as much but cannot, and/or will not, concede their need.
There are still countless millions who would rather pose snide and derogatory questions of believers about their faith, who consider Jesus less than who He is, who seek to rationalize their sinful lives rather than take a step of faith towards God.
“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Claiming to be wise, they became fools…“ — Romans 1:19-20, 22b
Nothing’s changed.
The Good News is: Even today, there are still “tax collectors” among us who hear Jesus say, “Follow Me.” and, by grace, they leave it all behind to follow the One, True Savior.
Thank you, Jesus!
Thanks Allan. And, thank you Jesus, as you’ve already said.