Luke 5:29
And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This wasn't just a casual dinner; the word for "feast" highlights the sheer number of guests, suggesting Levi wanted to pack the room. It's a powerful image of him bringing his whole world – his fellow tax collectors and others – face-to-face with Jesus, likely to witness the radical transformation he himself had just experienced.
Freshly called from his tax-collecting booth, Levi (also known as Matthew) throws a huge party at his home to celebrate his new life with Jesus. The guests are primarily his colleagues – other tax collectors, a group often seen as outcasts and sinners by society – along with other "others" who would have been considered fringe members of the community. This massive gathering, filled with people Jesus was expected to avoid, immediately sets the stage for the Pharisees' criticism later in the passage.
Levi has just been called by Jesus to leave everything behind. What's the first thing he does? He throws a massive party!
The word for "great feast" here literally means a reception. It wasn't just about the food, but the gathering of people. Levi wanted to introduce Jesus to his friends and colleagues – a whole community of tax collectors and others.
Think about what this shows:
Imagine the scene: Jesus, the holy Son of God, sitting down to eat with people considered social outcasts. What does this say about His mission?
Tax collectors, or publicans, were deeply unpopular. They often worked for the Roman occupiers and were known for their greed and corruption. By association, anyone dining with them was also viewed with suspicion.
However, Jesus deliberately chose to be there. This wasn't an accident; it was strategic.
Understand the original words
dochē · Greek Noun
A social event centered on eating, symbolizing fellowship, community, and acceptance. In the biblical context, sharing a meal was a sign of covenant friendship and spiritual identity.
Early 1st century AD
Roman occupation of Judea
The Roman Empire maintained significant political and military control over Judea during Jesus' ministry, impacting daily life and economics.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus begins his public ministry
Jesus travelled throughout Galilee and Judea, teaching, healing, and calling disciples, gathering a following that included both devout Jews and those on the fringes of society.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus calls Levi (Matthew)
Jesus encounters Levi, a tax collector, at his customs post and calls him to be a disciple, an act that would have been socially shocking to many.
Early 1st century AD
Levi hosts Jesus and associates
Levi, now a follower of Jesus, throws a large reception in his home, inviting fellow tax collectors and other societal outsiders to meet Jesus.
Early 1st century AD
Pharisees and scribes criticize Jesus
This passage describes the same event from Matthew's perspective, highlighting that Matthew (Levi) also made a feast for Jesus, but notably omits details about himself, a testament to true humility.
Luke 15:1-2The Gospels mention Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners multiple times. This passage shows the religious leaders grumbling about Jesus associating with such 'sinners,' providing context for the societal disapproval Levi and his guests faced.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29Paul speaks of God choosing the 'weak' and 'lowly' to shame the 'wise' and 'strong.' Levi's calling and Jesus' willingness to dine with tax collectors powerfully illustrate this principle of God using the unexpected.
2 Corinthians 5:17Jesus' call to Levi signifies a new beginning, a transformation where the old life of tax collecting is left behind for a new identity in Christ. This feast is a celebration of that profound change.
clarkeLuke 5:29: "And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them."
A great feast - Δοχην μεγαλην, A splendid entertainment. The word refers more properly to the number of the guests, and the manner in which they were received, than to the quality or quantity of the fare. A great number of his friends and acquaintance was collected on the occasion, that they might be convinced of the propriety of the change he had made…
jfbLuke 5:27-32: "And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me."
Lu 5:27-32. Levi's Call and Feast.(See on [1576]Mt 9:9-13; and Mr 2:14.)
This wasn't just a casual dinner; the word for "feast" highlights the sheer number of guests, suggesting Levi wanted to pack the room. It's a powerful image of him bringing his whole world – his fellow tax collectors and others – face-to-face with Jesus, likely to witness the radical transformation he himself had just experienced.
Freshly called from his tax-collecting booth, Levi (also known as Matthew) throws a huge party at his home to celebrate his new life with Jesus. The guests are primarily his colleagues – other tax collectors, a group often seen as outcasts and sinners by society – along with other "others" who would have been considered fringe members of the community. This massive gathering, filled with people Jesus was expected to avoid, immediately sets the stage for the Pharisees' criticism later in the passage.
Freshly called from his tax-collecting booth, Levi (also known as Matthew) throws a huge party at his home to celebrate his new life with Jesus. The guests are primarily his colleagues – other tax collectors, a group often seen as outcasts and sinners by society – along with other "others" who would have been considered fringe members of the community. This massive gathering, filled with people Jesus was expected to avoid, immediately sets the stage for the Pharisees' criticism later in the passage.
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Religious leaders observe Jesus eating with tax collectors and 'sinners,' leading them to question his association with such people.
"And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them." — This wasn't just a casual dinner; the word for "feast" highlights the sheer number of guests, suggesting Levi wanted to pack the room. It's a powerful image of him bringing his whole world – his fell…
