13 Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) went back out beside the lake where crowds of people kept coming to him and he taught them. 14 As he was passing by the tax office, he saw Levi Halfay (Grk. Halfaios) sitting there and said to him, “Come along with me.” So Levi stood up and followed Yeshua.

15 Yeshua ended up having a meal at Levi’s place, and many other tax collectors and undesirables were sitting there also, along with Yeshua and his followers, because by then, many people were following him around. 16 When the teachers from the Farisaios party noticed that Yeshua was eating beside undesirables and tax-collectors, they asked his followers, “How come he eats with tax-collectors and other low-life?”

17 Yeshua overheard them and said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—it’s the sick ones that do. I didn’t come here to help those who think they have no needs, but I came to call sinners.”

9 And as Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) was leaving there, he saw a man called Matay (Matthew; Grk. Matthaios) (also known as Levi) sitting in the tax office. He said to Matay, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.

10 Later, when Yeshua was eating at Matay’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came in and sat at the table together with Yeshua and his apprentices.[ref] 11 Some people from the Farisaios party noticed this and said to his apprentices, “How come your teacher eats with tax collectors and sinners?”

12 But Yeshua heard this and said, “People who are well don’t need a doctor—only the ones with problems do. 13 So go and find out the meaning of this: I like mercy, not sacrifice.[ref] After all, it’s sinners that I came to call, not people who are considered righteous.”

27 Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) went outside after that and he saw a tax-collector named Levi sitting in his office and told him, “Come and follow me.” 28 So Levi left everything and went and followed Yeshua.

29 Then Levi prepared a large meal in his home for Yeshua, plus there were also a lot of tax-collectors and others who were sitting with them. 30 Some from the Farisaios party and religious teachers grumbled at Yeshua’s followers, complaining, “Why are you all eating and drinking with tax collectors and other low-life?”[ref]

31 But it was Yeshua who answered, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—only those who are sick. 32 I didn’t come to call those who are ‘righteous’, but to call sinners to come and turn away from disobeying God.”