Luke 5:29-32

5:29 Then ¹  Levi gave a great banquet ²  in his house for Jesus, ³  and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting ⁴  at the table with them. 5:30 But ⁵  the Pharisees ⁶  and their experts in the law ⁷  complained ⁸  to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” ⁹  5:31 Jesus ¹⁰  answered them, “Those who are well don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. ¹¹  5:32 I have not come ¹²  to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” ¹³ 

[5:29]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[5:29]  ² 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.

[5:29]  ³ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:29]  ⁴ 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.

[5:30]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the implied contrast present in this context.

[5:30]  ⁶ sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.

[5:30]  ⁷ tn Or “and their scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.

[5:30]  ⁸ 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.

[5:30]  ⁹ 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.

[5:31]  ⁹ tn Grk “And Jesus.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[5:31]  ¹⁰ 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.

[5:32]  ¹³ sn I have not come is another commission statement by Jesus; see 4:43-44.

[5:32]  ¹⁴ 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.