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Luke 5:31

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

Jesus answered them, 'Listen, healthy people don't need a doctor, sick people do.'

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

Jesus came for the broken, not the perfect.

📚 Historical Context

In the Gospel of Luke, this verse occurs during an early event in Jesus' ministry when he was eating with tax collectors and sinners, which provoked criticism from the Pharisees and religious leaders who valued strict separation from such people. Jesus responds to their objections with this analogy, highlighting that his purpose is to minister to those who recognize their spiritual need, much like a doctor treats the sick rather than the healthy. This reflects the cultural norms of first-century Jewish society, where religious purity often meant avoiding association with sinners to uphold societal and ritual standards.

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