Luke 5:31

KJV

And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} Jesus {G2424} answering {G611} said {G2036} unto {G4314} them {G846}, They that are whole {G5198} need {G5532}{G2192} not {G3756} a physician {G2395}; but {G235} they that are {G2192} sick {G2560}.

Complete Jewish Bible

It was Yeshua who answered them: "The ones who need a doctor aren't the healthy but the sick.

Berean Standard Bible

Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

American Standard Version

And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are in health have no need of a physician; but they that are sick.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Luke 5:31, Jesus articulates the core of His redemptive mission, responding to the critical Pharisees and scribes who questioned His association with tax collectors and "sinners." He declares that just as a physician is needed by the sick, not the healthy, so too His ministry is directed toward those who recognize their spiritual brokenness and need for salvation, rather than those who are self-righteous and perceive themselves as whole. This profound statement underscores Jesus' compassion for the marginalized and His purpose to bring healing to the spiritually infirm.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is Jesus' direct and pivotal response to the murmuring of the Pharisees and scribes, who were scandalized by His actions. Immediately preceding this, Jesus had called Levi (also known as Matthew), a tax collector, to be one of His disciples ([Luke 5:27-28](/luke/5-27-28 "Luke 5:27-28 - The Call of Levi")). Following Levi's call, he hosted a great feast in his house, where Jesus and His disciples reclined at table with "a great company of tax collectors and of others that were sinners" ([Luke 5:29](/luke/5-29 "Luke 5:29 - Levi's Feast")). The religious leaders, observing this unconventional association, questioned Jesus' disciples, asking, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" ([Luke 5:30](/luke/5-30 "Luke 5:30 - The Pharisees' Question")). Jesus, hearing their grumbling, delivers the analogy of the physician, which directly addresses their criticism and clarifies His mission.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting of this encounter is crucial. Tax collectors (like Levi) were deeply despised by Jewish society, viewed as traitors who collaborated with the Roman occupiers and often extorted money from their own people, placing them among the lowest social strata, often grouped with "sinners" (prostitutes, gentiles, and those who did not adhere to Mosaic Law and oral traditions). The Pharisees, on the other hand, were a prominent Jewish religious sect known for their strict adherence to the Law, their emphasis on ritual purity, and their separation from those deemed "unclean" or "sinful." Their concern was rooted in their understanding of righteousness and holiness, which mandated separation from those who violated God's law or Jewish custom. Jesus' willingness to dine with such individuals was a profound challenge to their social and religious norms, as sharing a meal symbolized fellowship, acceptance, and intimacy.

* **Key Themes:** [Luke 5:31](/luke/5-31 "Luke 5:31 - Jesus the Divine Physician") contributes significantly to several major themes in Luke's Gospel and Jesus' ministry. Firstly, it powerfully establishes **Jesus as the Divine Physician**, explicitly defining His role not as one who validates the already "righteous" but as a healer of the spiritually infirm. This theme is echoed elsewhere, such as when Jesus references a physician in [Luke 4:23](/luke/4-23 "Luke 4:23 - Physician, Heal Yourself"). Secondly, the verse highlights the contrast between **Spiritual Sickness and Self-Righteousness**. The "whole" represent those, like the Pharisees, who believe they are righteous enough, needing no spiritual remedy, often characterized by a strict adherence to the letter of the Law but missing its spirit. Conversely, the "sick" are those who are aware of their sinfulness and brokenness, thus open to receiving God's mercy and salvation. This distinction underscores the third theme: **The Mission to the Lost**. This statement encapsulates Jesus' primary purpose: to seek and save that which was lost ([Luke 19:10](/luke/19-10 "Luke 19:10 - The Son of Man Came to Seek and Save the Lost")). It emphasizes His compassion for the marginalized and His desire to bring salvation to those who confess their need, rather than to those who self-righteously believe they have no need.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Whole (Greek, _hygiaínō'_):** From G5198, meaning to have sound health, be well, or figuratively, to be uncorrupt or true in doctrine. In this context, it refers to those who perceive themselves as spiritually healthy and righteous, needing no spiritual intervention or healing. Jesus uses this term with a touch of irony, implying that those who *think* they are whole are often the ones most resistant to the spiritual healing He offers.
* **Physician (Greek, _iatrós'_):** From G2395, directly meaning a physician or healer. Jesus uses this term to define His own role as one who brings spiritual healing and restoration. The analogy highlights His capacity and intent to cure the deepest human ailment: sin.
* **Sick (Greek, _kakōs échō'_):** A phrase combining G2560 (_kakōs_), meaning badly or grievously, and G2192 (_échō_), meaning to hold or have. Together, it describes those who are "badly off" or in a state of spiritual illness, moral corruption, or brokenness, recognizing their need for divine intervention. This phrase emphasizes a state of being in dire need of help.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Jesus answering said unto them,"**: This clause establishes Jesus' direct and authoritative response to the Pharisees and scribes who were questioning His disciples about His dining habits. His answer is not a defense but a profound declaration of His purpose.
* **"They that are whole need not a physician;"**: Jesus begins with an undeniable truism from the physical realm. Healthy people do not require medical intervention. In the spiritual analogy, this refers to those who are self-righteous and believe they are spiritually sound, having no perceived need for repentance or God's mercy. This group, ironically, is often the most resistant to the Gospel.
* **"but they that are sick."**: This contrasting clause completes the analogy, highlighting the necessity of a physician for those who are unwell. Spiritually, this refers to those who recognize their sinfulness, their moral brokenness, and their desperate need for God's grace and forgiveness. These are the "sinners" and "tax collectors" with whom Jesus associated, precisely because they acknowledged their spiritual illness and were receptive to His healing ministry.

#### Literary Devices
Jesus employs a powerful **Analogy** and **Metaphor** in [Luke 5:31](/luke/5-31 "Luke 5:31 - Jesus the Divine Physician"), comparing Himself to a **Physician** and humanity to patients. This analogy is particularly effective because it draws on a common, relatable experience—the need for medical help when ill—to illustrate a profound spiritual truth. The "whole" and the "sick" serve as **Metaphors** for those who are spiritually self-sufficient versus those who recognize their sinfulness. There is also an element of **Irony** in Jesus' statement, as those who considered themselves "whole" (the Pharisees) were, in Jesus' eyes, spiritually blind and in greater need of healing than those they condemned. This rhetorical device subtly challenges their self-perception and highlights the spiritual sickness inherent in self-righteousness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 5:31 is a cornerstone statement regarding the nature of God's grace and the purpose of Jesus' earthly ministry. It reveals that God's love and salvation are not contingent upon human merit or perceived righteousness, but are freely offered to those who acknowledge their spiritual need. Jesus' mission is fundamentally redemptive, seeking out the lost and broken, rather than affirming the self-proclaimed righteous. This truth challenges any system that bases access to God on human performance or social standing, emphasizing instead a humble recognition of sin and a desperate reliance on divine mercy. It underscores the radical inclusivity of the Gospel, which extends to all who confess their need for a Savior.

* [Mark 2:17](/mark/2-17 "Mark 2:17 - Jesus Calls Sinners")
* [Matthew 9:12-13](/matthew/9-12-13 "Matthew 9:12-13 - The Call of Matthew and Jesus' Mission")
* [1 Timothy 1:15](/1_timothy/1-15 "1 Timothy 1:15 - Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Luke 5:31](/luke/5-31 "Luke 5:31 - Jesus the Divine Physician") serves as a profound mirror, inviting us to honestly assess our own spiritual condition. Do we, like the Pharisees, see ourselves as "whole," self-sufficient, and therefore in no desperate need of God's grace? Or do we, like the tax collectors and "sinners," humbly acknowledge our spiritual sickness, our brokenness, and our constant need for the Great Physician? True spiritual health begins with recognizing our illness. This verse calls us to shed any pretense of self-righteousness and embrace the liberating truth that Jesus came precisely for those who are aware of their need for Him. It encourages us to extend the same compassion and non-judgmental outreach to others that Jesus demonstrated, understanding that the Gospel is for the sick, the lost, and the broken, not just for those we deem "worthy." Our mission, like His, should be to bring healing and hope to those who recognize their spiritual infirmity.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I tend to act as if I am "whole" and self-sufficient, not needing God's intervention?**
* **How does my understanding of my own spiritual "sickness" impact my compassion and outreach to others who are struggling?**
* **Am I more prone to judge others for their perceived sin or to extend grace and invite them to the Great Physician?**

### FAQ

**What does Jesus mean by "whole" and "sick" in this context?**

Answer: In [Luke 5:31](/luke/5-31 "Luke 5:31 - Jesus the Divine Physician"), Jesus uses the terms "whole" and "sick" metaphorically to describe spiritual conditions. By "whole" (Greek, _hygiaínō_), He refers to those who are self-righteous, who believe they are morally and spiritually sound, and therefore see no need for repentance or divine intervention. This group often included the Pharisees, who meticulously followed the Law and oral traditions, believing their obedience made them righteous before God. By "sick" (Greek, _kakōs échō_), Jesus refers to those who recognize their sinfulness, their moral brokenness, and their desperate need for God's grace and forgiveness. These are the "sinners" and tax collectors with whom Jesus associated, precisely because they acknowledged their spiritual illness and were receptive to His healing ministry. Jesus' point is that His mission is directed toward those who are aware of their spiritual need, not toward those who are blinded by their own perceived righteousness.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[Luke 5:31](/luke/5-31 "Luke 5:31 - Jesus the Divine Physician") profoundly reveals Jesus as the ultimate Divine Physician, whose very incarnation and ministry are the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan for a fallen humanity. He is not merely a moral teacher or a social reformer, but the one sent by God to heal the deepest ailment of the human soul: sin. His coming was not for the self-sufficient, but for those spiritually "sick" and dying in their transgressions, as foreshadowed in prophecies of the suffering servant who would bear our infirmities ([Isaiah 53:4-5](/isaiah/53-4-5 "Isaiah 53:4-5 - The Suffering Servant")). Jesus' willingness to associate with the marginalized and sinful demonstrates His perfect love and His mission to seek and save the lost ([Luke 19:10](/luke/19-10 "Luke 19:10 - The Son of Man Came to Seek and Save the Lost")). Through His atoning death on the cross, He provided the ultimate cure for our spiritual sickness, bearing our sins in His own body so that by His wounds we might be healed ([1 Peter 2:24](/1_peter/2-24 "1 Peter 2:24 - By His Wounds We Are Healed")). He invites all who are weary and burdened by their sin to come to Him for rest and healing ([Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary")), demonstrating that God's love for us was expressed while we were still sinners ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love")). Thus, Jesus is the Physician who not only diagnoses but also provides the perfect remedy, bringing spiritual life and reconciliation with God to all who confess their need and put their faith in Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Mark 2:17

When Jesus heard [it], he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Matthew 9:12

But when Jesus heard [that], he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

Matthew 9:13

But go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Jeremiah 8:22

[Is there] no balm in Gilead; [is there] no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?