The Call of Levi or Matthew

Matthew 9:9-13

Passing by, Jesus saw a man sitting at the custom house, named Matthew. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and left with him.

And shortly, Jesus was eating at his house and many tax-collector’s and other sinners came and joined him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they asked his disciples, “Why does your rabbi eat with tax-collectors and sinners?”

But Jesus heard their question and said to them, “Those who are healthy don’t need a doctor, but those who are sick. Go and learn what ‘I want mercy, not sacrifice’ means. I did not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.”

Mark 2:13-17

And as he went again along the sea, the entire multitude came to him, and he taught them. And as he passed the custom house, he saw Levi ben Alphaeus sitting at his post and said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and left with him.

And while Jesus ate with him at his home, many tax-collectors and other sinners also sat with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eating with the tax-collectors and sinners, they asked his disciples, “How can he eat and drink with tax-collectors and sinners?”

Hearing what they had said, Jesus said to them, “They that are well don’t need a doctor; rather those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.”

Luke 5:27-32

Later, he was out walking and saw a tax-collector, named Levi, collecting customs and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he left it all, got up, and followed him.

And Levi made him a great feast in his home. And there was several tax-collectors and others that ate with them. But the scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax-collectors and sinners?”

Jesus answered them and said, “They that are well don’t need a doctor; but rather those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.”