A Publican Named Levi - Luke 5:27

The beloved physician Luke shared how Jesus healed a man with palsy after forgiving his sins, “and immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God, and they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day”, and in chapter five and verse twenty-seven of his book Luke shares how Jesus, “saw a publican, named Levi” where we read:

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.

The verse reads, “And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, ...” Luke began with the words, “And after these things” or “and when the healing of the man with palsy was passed” “he went forth” which means “Jesus arose, departed and proceeded forward”, “and saw a publican” or “and observed and noticed a tax gatherer and collector of taxes or tolls”, “named Levi” which means “a man whose name means joined and was the son of Alphaeus”. Luke shared how Jesus left where He was after He completed the events concerning healing the man with palsy, walked along and observed a “tax collector” named “Levi”.

The verse goes on to say, “... sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.” Luke continued with the words, “sitting at the receipt of custom” which means “who was seated and established at the toll house, place of toll, tax office or tax-gatherer's place of business”: “and he said unto him” or “and Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed to Levi”, “Follow me” which means “join or come alongside Jesus as his attendant or disciple”. Luke shared how Levi was located in his “tax collector office or place” and Jesus called him to be His “disciple”.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus continued in His ministry among people. He already asked Peter, James and John to “follow Him” as He would make them “fishers of men”, and now He observed a “tax-collector” named “Levi” whom He would also call. “Tax-collectors” were not in favor with most people because they cheated them out of money by charging excess “taxes” over the amount they were supposed to collect. However, Jesus called this “tax-collector”, “Levi”, to be His “disciple and assistant”. God sees people for who they can be after they receive His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and regardless of their past, He is not only able to save them by forgiving their sins, but He will use them in His Kingdom to accomplish His purposes and plans. Those who are wise yield their lives to Jesus who is able to take the “vilest” sinner, make him whole and use Him in His Kingdom.

Next time Luke shares how Levi, “left all, rose up, and followed him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".