And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
After all this, Jesus was walking around and spotted this tax collector named Levi just sitting at his booth, doing his job. Jesus walked right up to him and said, 'Come with me.'
Jesus saw potential in someone everyone else probably avoided and invited him into something bigger.
📚 Historical Context
In the Gospel of Luke, this event occurs shortly after Jesus healed a man with leprosy and forgave a paralytic's sins, demonstrating His divine authority and drawing crowds. Publicans like Levi were Jewish tax collectors working for the Roman Empire, often viewed as traitors and sinners by their fellow Jews because they collected taxes and were suspected of corruption. Jesus' call to Levi highlights His inclusive mission to seek out and transform those society rejected.
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