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      JESUS AND PEOPLE: "RECRUITING A NEW ASSOCIATE" 
             LUKE 5:27-32 (WITH LUKE 19:1-10)
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To prepare for this, read both passages: Luke 5:27-32 and 
Luke 19:1-10, both about Jesus’ friendships with tax 
collectors.

Tax collectors were considered the scum of Palestinian 
society for two reasons. First, they worked for the hated 
oppressors, the Romans, and second, they were notorious for 
cheating people into paying more taxes than they owed. 
Respectable people had nothing to do with them.

Taxes were not administered by the government, but private 
enterprise. The government put a district up for bid. How 
much will you bid to collect taxes for this district? 
Anything the tax collector received beyond his “bid” he 
could use to fatten his own pockets.

In this weeks’ stories Jesus transgressed the social taboo 
of eating with tax collectors and sinners. He did it to make 
a point. We will focus our discussion on the incident in 
Luke 5:27-32, the Calling of Levi. Incidentally, Matthew’s 
gospel calls Levi by the name Matthew, who was one of Jesus’ 
12 disciples. 

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Monday

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LEVEL 1: OBSERVATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES THE TEXT SAY?
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1.1  By careful observation, what do you learn about Levi 
from these six verses. For example, what does his name 
reveal? 

1.2  Why was Jesus criticized?

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Tuesday

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LEVEL 2: INTERPRETATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES THE TEXT MEAN?
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2.1  Jesus invites Levi to follow him, and –- just like that 
–- Levi leaves everything and does so. What needs do you 
think Levi felt? What do you think preceded this incident in 
Levi’s life? 

2.2  How does Jesus treat Levi and his friends?  Why do you 
think he treats them differently than did society as a 
whole? Did his friendship equate with approval?

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Wednesday

2.3  What, do you think, motivated Levi to hold a banquet 
for Jesus? 

2.4  What does Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees (vs. 31-32) 
reveal about Jesus’ understanding of his own role and 
mission?

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Thursday

2.5  Jesus uses the analogy of the sick and the healthy. Why 
is repentance (vs. 32) necessary to this “doctor’s” healing?

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Friday

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LEVEL 3: APPLICATION QUESTIONS: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?
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3.1  Have you ever felt rejected by righteous people?  Have 
you ever felt rejected by Jesus?

3.2  If Jesus were to “call” you, what difference do you 
think it might make for you?