Luke 5:29

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.

And {G2532} Levi {G3018} made {G4160} him {G846} a great {G3173} feast {G1403} in {G1722} his own {G846} house {G3614}: and {G2532} there was {G2258} a great {G4183} company {G3793} of publicans {G5057} and {G2532} of others {G243} that {G3739} sat down {G2258}{G2621} with {G3326} them {G846}.

Levi gave a banquet at his house in Yeshua's honor, and there was a large group of tax-collectors and others at the table with them.

Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them.

And Levi made him a great feast in his house: and there was a great multitude of publicans and of others that were sitting at meat with them.

Luke 5:29 describes a pivotal moment following Jesus' call of Levi, also known as Matthew, the tax collector. This verse highlights Levi's immediate and profound response to Jesus' invitation to follow Him.

Context

Just prior to this verse, Jesus called Levi (Matthew) from his tax booth, and Levi immediately left everything to follow Him (Luke 5:28). In ancient Jewish society, tax collectors were deeply despised. They were often seen as traitors for working for the Roman occupiers and were notorious for corruption, extorting more money than required for personal gain. They were considered social outcasts, often grouped with "sinners" and prostitutes, and were ritually unclean by the religious authorities.

Key Themes

  • Radical Conversion and Gratitude: Levi's act of throwing a "great feast" for Jesus in his own house demonstrates his profound gratitude and radical transformation. It was a public declaration of his new allegiance and a way to introduce his former associates to the One who had changed his life.
  • Jesus' Inclusive Mission: The presence of "a great company of publicans and of others" at the feast is crucial. This gathering vividly illustrates Jesus' mission to seek and save the lost, not just the outwardly righteous. He actively associated with those on the margins of society, demonstrating that His kingdom was open to all who would repent and believe. This challenged the rigid social and religious norms of the day, which often excluded such individuals.
  • Hospitality and Fellowship: Levi's home became a place of fellowship where Jesus could interact with those who most needed His message of grace. This act of hospitality created an environment for spiritual encounter and healing.

Linguistic Insights

The term "publicans" (Greek: telonai) refers specifically to tax collectors. Their inclusion in this verse, alongside "others" (often translated as "sinners"), emphasizes the company Jesus kept. This association was scandalous to the religious elite, who believed that righteous people should not defile themselves by associating with such individuals.

Significance and Application

Luke 5:29 sets the stage for Jesus' powerful declaration in the verses that follow, where He explains that He came "not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Luke 5:32). This event underscores several timeless truths:

  • God's Grace Extends to All: No one is beyond the reach of God's grace, regardless of their past or social standing.
  • The Importance of Evangelism: Levi's feast was an early form of evangelism, bringing those in his sphere of influence into contact with Jesus.
  • Challenging Social Prejudices: Jesus consistently broke down barriers and challenged the judgmental attitudes of His time, modeling a radical inclusivity that believers are called to emulate. We are to welcome and share the Gospel with all people, especially those society might deem "unworthy."

This verse reminds us that true faith leads to a desire to share the transformative power of Christ with others, opening our homes and lives to those who need to hear His message of hope and salvation.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 15:1

    ¶ Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:9

    ¶ I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

  • 1 Corinthians 5:11

    But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

  • John 12:2

    There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

  • Matthew 9:10

    And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

  • Mark 2:15

    And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:27

    If any of them that believe not bid you [to a feast], and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

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