Luke 5:28 kjv
And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
Luke 5:28 nkjv
So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.
Luke 5:28 niv
and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
Luke 5:28 esv
And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.
Luke 5:28 nlt
So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.
Luke 5 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 5:10-11 | "And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him." | Other disciples left everything too. |
| Mt 4:20 | "Immediately they left their nets and followed him." | Similar immediate abandonment by Peter & Andrew. |
| Mk 1:18 | "And immediately they left their nets and followed him." | Mirror account in Mark for early disciples. |
| Mk 10:21 | "Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor..." | Contrast with the rich young ruler's struggle. |
| Lk 18:22 | "And when Jesus heard these things, he said to him, 'You still lack one thing: Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor...'" | Parallel to Mk 10:21. |
| Lk 14:26 | "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." | Cost of radical discipleship. |
| Lk 14:33 | "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple." | The requirement of total surrender. |
| Phil 3:7-8 | "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord..." | Paul's complete relinquishment for Christ. |
| Mt 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters..." | Cannot serve both God and material wealth. |
| Gen 12:1-4 | "So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him..." | Abram's obedient departure from his homeland. |
| 1 Kgs 19:19-21 | "So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh...and followed Elijah and ministered to him." | Elisha's decisive action to follow. |
| Acts 9:6 | "So he, trembling and astonished, said, 'Lord, what do You want me to do?'" | Paul's immediate conversion and submission. |
| Deut 6:5 | "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." | Commandment for total devotion. |
| Mt 10:37 | "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me..." | Primacy of loyalty to Jesus. |
| 1 Cor 1:26-28 | "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise..." | God calls the overlooked and lowly. |
| Lk 5:29-32 | "And Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house... 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.'" | Jesus associating with outcasts, not the righteous. |
| Hos 6:6 | "For I desire mercy and not sacrifice..." | Emphasizes heart's devotion over ritual, echoed in Lk 5:32. |
| Psa 40:7-8 | "Then I said, 'Behold, I come... I delight to do Your will, O my God...'" | Jesus' own example of obedience to God's will. |
| Heb 11:8 | "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going." | Faith in obedience despite uncertainty. |
| Eph 2:8-10 | "For by grace you have been saved through faith... not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works..." | Discipleship is a response to grace, leading to works. |
Luke 5 verses
Luke 5 28 Meaning
Luke 5:28 describes the immediate and complete response of Levi, a tax collector, to Jesus' call. Upon hearing Jesus' invitation to "follow me" (Lk 5:27), Levi unreservedly abandoned his previous life and profession, choosing to become a disciple and companion of Christ. This verse highlights the profound authority of Jesus' call and the radical nature of true discipleship, which demands full relinquishment of earthly ties for a greater heavenly purpose.
Luke 5 28 Context
Luke chapter 5 begins with Jesus calling His first disciples, Simon Peter, James, and John, by performing a miraculous catch of fish, which leads them to leave their nets and follow Him. Immediately following this, Jesus heals a man with leprosy and a paralytic, demonstrating His divine authority over sickness and sin, which stirs both amazement and opposition among the religious leaders. Luke 5:27 then introduces the call of Levi (also known as Matthew, see Mt 9:9), a tax collector, an individual considered among the most despised in Jewish society due to their collaboration with Roman rule and often exorbitant practices. In this social and religious climate, Jesus' direct call to a public sinner, followed by Levi's radical response in Luke 5:28, is profoundly counter-cultural. It directly challenges the established social hierarchy and purity norms of the time, revealing Jesus' mission to seek and save the lost, not merely the outwardly righteous. This call sets the stage for the controversy in Luke 5:29-32, where Jesus dines with tax collectors and sinners, declaring His mission as a physician for the spiritually sick.
Luke 5 28 Word analysis
- And (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction connecting Levi's action to Jesus' call in the preceding verse. It implies immediate sequence and direct consequence.
- leaving (ἀπολιπὼν - apolipōn): A participle from
apoleipō. This word signifies a decisive and complete abandonment or forsaking. It implies a definitive act of separation from what was previously held, emphasizing no return to his old life. For a tax collector, this means abandoning a lucrative, albeit disreputable, livelihood. - everything (πάντα - panta): The accusative plural of
pas, meaning "all," "every," "complete," "entire." This highlights the totality of Levi's surrender. He left behind his professional equipment, his source of income, and perhaps even his social identity tied to his occupation. It signifies an unreserved response, holding nothing back. - he (αὐτός - autos): Refers to Levi, the tax collector (Lk 5:27). This pronoun emphasizes Levi's personal and active agency in responding to Jesus' call.
- rose (ἀναστὰς - anastas): A participle from
anistēmi, meaning "to stand up," "to arise." It often conveys the idea of getting up to take action, sometimes with urgency or determination. It directly contrasts with the passive act of sitting at his tax booth and signifies a readiness to move into a new way of life. - and followed (ἠκολούθησεν - ēkolouthēsen): From
akoloutheō, meaning "to follow," "to accompany," "to go with," but in a discipleship context, it means "to become a disciple of" or "to adhere to." It implies a commitment to imitation, learning, and obedience to the one being followed. This is not merely walking behind Jesus but aligning his life entirely with Christ's path and teachings. - him (αὐτῷ - autō): Refers to Jesus. This confirms the direct object of Levi's decisive action: his life's direction and allegiance immediately shifted to Christ.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "And leaving everything, he rose": This phrase captures the sequence of relinquishment followed by immediate, decisive action. It shows a complete break from the past, enabling the step into a new life. The passive stance of "sitting at the tax booth" is transformed into an active posture of readiness.
- "rose and followed him": This pairing emphasizes the swift, resolute commitment to discipleship. "Rose" suggests the physical act of getting up from his tax booth, symbolizing his spiritual readiness and determination. "Followed him" signifies entering into the active life of a disciple, walking the path of Jesus and submitting to His leadership. The immediacy underlines a genuine and profound conversion of will.
Luke 5 28 Bonus section
Levi's swift and total response serves as a stark contrast to the response of the rich young ruler later in Luke's Gospel (Lk 18:18-23), who was unable to part with his wealth to follow Jesus. This juxtaposition emphasizes that true discipleship is less about outward morality or status and more about radical obedience and the willingness to sacrifice everything for the Kingdom of God. It is also significant that Levi, once an agent of foreign oppression collecting money for Rome, becomes a follower of the One who establishes God's Kingdom, symbolizing the power of the Gospel to transform hearts and repurpose lives for divine purposes.
Luke 5 28 Commentary
Luke 5:28 is a profound testament to the transformative power of Jesus' call and the radical nature of true discipleship. Levi, a tax collector despised by society and religious institutions, demonstrates an immediate and complete relinquishment of his entire life to follow Christ. His act of "leaving everything" signifies an absolute surrender of financial security, social standing, and old identity, paralleling the self-sacrificial nature of true faith. The phrase "he rose and followed him" conveys not only the physical act but also a profound spiritual awakening and decisive commitment. This highlights Jesus' authority to call anyone, regardless of their past, into His service and kingdom, showcasing a discipleship that prioritizes Christ above all worldly gains and comfort. Levi's example challenges believers to consider the totality of their surrender to God's call, recognizing that following Jesus requires a radical realignment of priorities and allegiance.