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29 Then[a] Levi gave a great banquet[b] in his house for Jesus,[c] and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting[d] at the table with them. 30 But[e] the Pharisees[f] and their experts in the law[g] complained[h] to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”[i] 31 Jesus[j] answered them, “Those who are well don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do.[k] 32 I have not come[l] to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”[m]

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 5:29 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
  2. Luke 5:29 sn A great banquet refers to an elaborate meal. Many of the events in Luke take place in the context of meal fellowship: 7:36-50; 9:12-17; 10:38-42; 11:37-54; 14:1-24; 22:7-38; 24:29-32, 41-43.
  3. Luke 5:29 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  4. Luke 5:29 tn Grk “reclining.” This term reflects the normal practice in 1st century Jewish culture of eating a meal in a semi-reclining position. Since it is foreign to most modern readers, the translation “sitting” has been substituted.
  5. Luke 5:30 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the implied contrast present in this context.
  6. Luke 5:30 sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.
  7. Luke 5:30 tn Or “and their scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.
  8. Luke 5:30 tn Or “grumbled”; a term often used in the OT for inappropriate grumbling: Exod 15:24; 16:7-8; Num 14:2, 26-35; 16:11.
  9. Luke 5:30 sn The issue here is inappropriate associations (eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners) and the accusation comes not against Jesus, but his disciples.
  10. Luke 5:31 tn Grk “And Jesus.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  11. Luke 5:31 sn Jesus’ point is that he associates with those who are sick because they have the need and will respond to the offer of help. A person who is well (or who thinks mistakenly that he is) will not seek treatment.
  12. Luke 5:32 sn I have not come is another commission statement by Jesus; see 4:43-44.
  13. Luke 5:32 sn Though parallels exist to this saying (Matt 9:13; Mark 2:17), only Luke has this last phrase but sinners to repentance. Repentance is a frequent topic in Luke’s Gospel: 3:3, 8; 13:1-5; 15:7, 10; 16:30; 17:3-4; 24:47.

29 And Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining for the meal with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes began to complain[a] to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered and[b] said to them, “Those who are healthy do not have need of a physician, but those who are sick.[c] 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 5:30 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to complain”)
  2. Luke 5:31 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  3. Luke 5:31 Literally “having badly”