Mark 2:14
And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus' simple command, "Follow me," bypasses any justification or explanation, highlighting the immediate, life-altering power of His word. The fact that Levi, a despised tax collector, rose and followed without hesitation reveals that Christ's call wasn't just an invitation, but a transformative encounter that instantly redirected his entire future.
Jesus is teaching by the Sea of Galilee and has just healed a man with a withered hand. He then moves on and encounters Levi, a tax collector, sitting at his toll booth and directly calls him to be a disciple. This encounter immediately precedes Jesus dining with tax collectors and sinners, sparking outrage from the Pharisees who question Jesus' association with such people.
Imagine being so disliked, so despised, that simply being seen with you was a stain. That was Levi's world. Yet, Jesus saw him.
The calling of Levi (also known as Matthew) is a powerful statement about Jesus' mission.
A Profession of Shame
Tax collectors, or publicans, were deeply hated by the Jews. They worked for the Roman occupiers, collecting taxes that burdened their own people. Often, they extorted more than was due, leading to immense wealth for themselves and misery for others. A Jewish tax collector, like Levi, was seen as a traitor and a sinner of the highest order.
Jesus' Inclusive Mission
Despite Levi's profession and the societal stigma attached to it, Jesus didn't hesitate. He walked up to him, sitting at his tax booth, and issued a direct command: "Follow me."
This wasn't an accident. Jesus intentionally sought out those on the fringes of society. His mission was not to call the 'righteous' who thought they had no need of healing, but to bring salvation to the lost and broken. Levi's call vividly demonstrates this core purpose.
In a single moment, Levi's entire world shifted. His response was immediate and complete. What drove such drastic action?
Levi's reaction to Jesus' call is as remarkable as the call itself.
The Power of the Word
When Jesus spoke, His words carried divine authority and transformative power. For Levi, hearing 'Follow me' wasn't just an invitation; it was a divine summons that resonated deep within him. The text states he 'rose and followed him.' This wasn't a hesitant step or a thoughtful consideration; it was an immediate, decisive action.
Leaving Everything Behind
This simple phrase, 'rose and followed him,' signifies a complete abandonment of his former life. He left his lucrative, though despised, position at the tax booth. He left his security, his wealth, and his social standing. This radical obedience demonstrates the irresistible pull of Jesus' presence and the dawning realization that following Him offered something infinitely more valuable than his current life could ever provide.
Understand the original words
telōnion · Greek Noun
A public office or station where taxes were collected, often associated with the Roman occupation. In Jewish society, these were places of social and religious alienation due to the corruption and perceived collaboration of the collectors.
akoloutheō · Greek Verb
In the context of Jesus' ministry, this is a call to total discipleship—a commitment to follow His teaching, imitate His lifestyle, and prioritize His mission above all earthly ties.
Levi, a Jewish tax collector in Roman-occupied Galilee, was a social outcast. His calling by Jesus, despite his profession and likely association with Roman tax collectors, highlights Jesus' mission to reach the marginalized and challenge societal prejudices.
c. 20-15 BC
Herod the Great rules Galilee
Herod the Great, a Roman client king, rules Galilee and surrounding regions, establishing Roman authority and imposing taxes which were often resented by the Jewish population.
AD 6
Cyprus becomes a Roman province
After the deposition of Herod Archelaus, Judea and Samaria come under direct Roman rule, with a Roman governor (prefect or procurator) stationed in Jerusalem, increasing Roman oversight and tax collection.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus begins public ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, teaching, healing, and calling disciples, including the calling of Levi/Matthew in Capernaum.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' ministry and disciples' growth
Jesus continues to teach and gather followers, including Levi (Matthew), leading to interactions with religious leaders and the formation of a core group of twelve apostles.
This passage describes the same event, highlighting that Levi was also known as Matthew and providing more detail about his immediate response and the meal that followed, emphasizing Christ's mission to call sinners.
Luke 5:27-28Luke's account also names him Levi and emphasizes the totality of his immediate response, stating he 'left everything' to follow Jesus, underscoring the radical nature of the call and the disciple's commitment.
Hosea 6:6Jesus quotes this Old Testament passage when challenged about eating with tax collectors and sinners, explaining that God desires mercy and a relationship with Him over ritualistic sacrifice, which deeply explains the 'why' behind Jesus's inclusive call.
1 Timothy 1:15Paul uses his own experience as a former persecutor of the church to illustrate Christ's saving grace, echoing the transformation seen in Levi, whom Jesus called despite his despised profession.
pooleMark 2:14: "And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him."
Ver. 14-17. We had this piece of history with some addition in Matthew 9:9-13 , where he was called Matthew: Mark and Luke both call him Levi: it was ordinary with the Jews to have two names. See Poole on "Matthew 9:9" .
vincentMark 2:14: "And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him."
See on Matthew 9:9.
Jesus' simple command, "Follow me," bypasses any justification or explanation, highlighting the immediate, life-altering power of His word. The fact that Levi, a despised tax collector, rose and followed without hesitation reveals that Christ's call wasn't just an invitation, but a transformative encounter that instantly redirected his entire future.
Jesus is teaching by the Sea of Galilee and has just healed a man with a withered hand. He then moves on and encounters Levi, a tax collector, sitting at his toll booth and directly calls him to be a disciple. This encounter immediately precedes Jesus dining with tax collectors and sinners, sparking outrage from the Pharisees who question Jesus' association with such people.
Jesus is teaching by the Sea of Galilee and has just healed a man with a withered hand. He then moves on and encounters Levi, a tax collector, sitting at his toll booth and directly calls him to be a disciple. This encounter immediately precedes Jesus dining with tax collectors and sinners, sparking outrage from the Pharisees who question Jesus' association with such people.
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It’s a testament to the transforming power of encountering Christ – the call is so compelling, the hope so profound, that one can leave everything to embrace it.
c. AD 33
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem, a pivotal event that profoundly impacts his followers and the early Christian movement.
c. AD 40s
Matthew writes his Gospel
Levi, now known as Matthew, writes his Gospel account of Jesus' life and teachings, including his own calling, likely for a Jewish audience.
"And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him." — Jesus' simple command, "Follow me," bypasses any justification or explanation, highlighting the immediate, life-altering power of His word. The fact that Levi, a despised tax collector, rose and foll…
