Mark 2:13-17 - Levi Called To Follow Jesus

¹³ He went out of the town again and along the shore, and all the people came to him and he taught them. ¹⁴ And as he was passing along he saw Levi, the son of Alpheus, sitting at the tollhouse, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.

¹⁵ He was at table in his house, with many tax-collectors and irreligious people who were at table with him and his disciples, for there were many of them among his followers. ¹⁶ And when the scribes who were of the Pharisees' party saw that he was eating with irreligious people and tax-collectors, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax-collectors and irreligious people?"

¹⁷ Jesus heard it, and said to them, "It is not well people but the sick who have to have the doctor. I did not come to invite the pious but the irreligious."

²⁷ After this he went out, and he saw a tax-collector named Levi sitting at the tollhouse, and he said to him, "Follow me!" ²⁸ And he left everything and got up and followed him.

²⁹ Then Levi gave a great entertainment for him in his house, and there was a great throng of tax-collectors and others who were at table with them. ³⁰ And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled about it to his disciples, and said, "Why do you eat and drink with tax-collectors and irreligious people?"

³¹ Jesus answered them, "It is not well people but the sick who have to have the doctor. ³² I have not come to invite the pious but the irreligious to repentance!"