^5:29Then¹¹³ Levi gave a great banquet¹¹⁴ in his house for Jesus,¹¹⁵ and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting¹¹⁶ at the table with them. ^5:30But¹¹⁷ the Pharisees¹¹⁸ and their experts in the law¹¹⁹ complained¹²⁰ to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”¹²¹^5:31Jesus¹²² answered them, “Those who are well don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do.¹²³^5:32I have not come¹²⁴ to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”¹²⁵

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Luke 5:32: I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance…

Footnotes

113 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
114 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.
115 Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
116 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.
117 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the implied contrast present in this context.
118 See the note on Pharisees in .
119 Or “and their scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in .
120 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.
121 The issue here is inappropriate associations (eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners) and the accusation comes not against Jesus, but his disciples.
122 Grk “And Jesus.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
123 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.
124 I have not come is another commission statement by Jesus; see 4:43–44.
125 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.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining at the table with them. But the Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

NLTNew Living Translation

Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?”

Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining for the meal with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes began to complain to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are healthy do not have need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

KJV 1900King James Version

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.

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