The Call of Levi
13 Jesus 2:13–17 Mt 9:9–13; Lk 5:27–32 went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching 2:13 Mt 28:20; Ac 4:2; 2Tm 4:11 them. 14 Then, passing by, he saw Levi 2:14 Lk 5:27,29 the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, 2:14 Lk 5:27 and he said to him, "Follow me," 2:14 Lk 5:27 and he got up and followed 2:14 Lk 5:11; Jn 8:12 him.
15 While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors 2:15 Lk 3:12; 18:13 and sinners 2:15 Mt 9:10; 1Tm 1:15 were eating 2:15 Lit reclining together with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him. 16 When the scribes 2:16 Mt 2:4 who were Pharisees 2:16 Other mss read scribes and Pharisees, 2:16 Mk 7:3 saw that he was eating 2:16 Mt 11:18 with sinners 2:16 1Tm 1:15 and tax collectors, 2:16 Lk 3:12 they asked his disciples, "Why does he eat 2:16 Other mss add and drink with tax collectors and sinners? "
17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, "It is not those who are well who need 2:17 Mt 6:8a doctor, 2:17 Col 4:14but those who are sick. 2:17 Lk 5:31I didn’t come to call the righteous, 2:17 Mt 13:17; Rm 1:17but sinners." 2:17 Lk 5:32