annotated_annals/content/bible_journal/luke_5:27-32.md

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title = "Luke 5:27–32"
date = "2022-11-05"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk5.27-32)

In the Roman Empire, tax collectors weren’t paid very much, and it was
generally expected by the authorities that they would line their pockets by
inflating the taxes owed by the people. Rome didn’t much care as long as they
were paid. But because everyone knew what was happening, tax collectors were
even less popular then than they are today. In Judea, it was even worse because
they were seen as traitors, helping the conquering invaders over their own
people.

So Jesus comes up and turns one into a disciple. We don’t get any backstory, or
why this Levi is willing to drop everything to follow Jesus, but he does and is
so overjoyed that he holds a feast for Jesus. He invites everyone he knows, who
are mostly other tax collectors because no one else would associate with them.

The Pharisees see what’s going on. They are watching Jesus to see what He does
and says, and they can’t believe that a teacher of His standing would associate
with sinners like Levi and his friends. The Pharisees tried very hard to live
holy lives, to such an extent that even being near someone not following the
law and traditions could damage their standing before God, as they saw it.

With His actions, Jesus refutes them completely. When they ask Him why, He
responds by saying that sinners are the kind of people He has come to minister
to in the first place. Righteous people don’t need a Savior; only sinners. What
the Pharisees didn’t realize yet was that they were just as sinful as those
they looked down on.

* * *

Do not let our sins seem less than those of others, just because they are
different sins.