Jesus Calls Levi

13 Once again Jesus went out by the sea. The entire crowd came to him, and he taught them. 14 As he was walking along, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth. Jesus said to him, “Follow me,” so Levi rose and followed him.

15 Later, as Jesus was reclining at the table in Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners reclined with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the scribes [fn]and the Pharisees saw Jesus eating with [fn]tax collectors and sinners, they said to his disciples, “Why is he eating [fn]and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who have need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners [fn]to repentance.”