The Call of Levi

27 And after these things he went out, and saw Levi, a tax-farmer, seated at the place where taxes were taken, and said to him, Come after me. 28 And giving up his business, he got up and went after him. 29 And Levi made a great feast for him in his house: and a great number of tax-farmers and others were seated at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes made protests against his disciples, saying, Why do you take food and drink with tax-farmers and sinners? 31 And Jesus, answering, said to them, Those who are well have no need of a medical man, but those who are ill. 32 I have come, not to get the upright, but sinners, so that they may be turned from their sins.

The Question about Fasting

33 And they said to him, The disciples of John frequently go without food, and make prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees; but your disciples take food and drink. 34 And Jesus said, Are you able to make the friends of the newly-married man go without food when he is with them? 35 But the days will come when he will be taken away from them, and then they will go without food. 36 And he said to them, in a story, No man takes a bit of cloth from a new coat and puts it on to an old coat, for so the new coat would be damaged and the bit from the new would not go well with the old. 37 And no man puts new wine into old wine-skins, for fear that the skins will be burst by the new wine, and the wine be let out, and the skins come to destruction. 38 But new wine has to be put into new wine-skins. 39 And no man, having had old wine, has any desire for new, for he says, The old is better.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 5:27-39

Commentary on Luke 5:27-39

(Read Luke 5:27-39)

It was a wonder of Christ's grace, that he would call a publican to be his disciple and follower. It was a wonder of his grace, that the call was made so effectual. It was a wonder of his grace, that he came to call sinners to repentance, and to assure them of pardon. It was a wonder of his grace, that he so patiently bore the contradiction of sinners against himself and his disciples. It was a wonder of his grace, that he fixed the services of his disciples according to their strength and standing. The Lord trains up his people gradually for the trials allotted them; we should copy his example in dealing with the weak in faith, or the tempted believer.