Lesson 5327

 (Lesson 5327)(09-07-26) Luke 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. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. 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. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." 

 

     In Today's quote, Jesus calls Levi, a despised tax collector, who immediately left everything to follow Him. Levi soon hosted a great feast that included all manner of "sinners". When the leaders of the Jews criticized Jesus for eating with the unclean, He explained that the healthy do not need a doctor, but the sick do. This lesson reveals the core purpose of Christ's earthly mission: he came not to affirm self-righteous people, but to seek out the spiritually needy and call them to genuine repentance. ~