Luke 5:29 kjv

And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

Luke 5:29 nkjv

Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them.

Luke 5:29 niv

Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

Luke 5:29 esv

And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.

Luke 5:29 nlt

Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi's fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them.

Luke 5 verses

Luke 5 29 Meaning

(h2)Luke 5:29 describes Levi, also known as Matthew, hosting a significant banquet in his own home for Jesus. This gathering included a large number of his former colleagues, tax collectors, and other individuals widely regarded as "sinners" by the religious elite of the day. It highlights Jesus's revolutionary approach to ministry by intentionally associating with marginalized and despised individuals, extending fellowship and hope to those society had cast out. It is a public demonstration of Levi's new allegiance and a precursor to the theological controversies that would follow regarding Jesus's ministry.

Luke 5 29 Context

(h2)Luke 5:29 occurs immediately after Jesus calls Levi, a despised tax collector, to follow Him (Lk 5:27-28). Levi's immediate, radical response is to abandon his profitable profession and throw a lavish feast in his own house for Jesus, inviting many of his tax collector friends and other social outcasts. This event highlights Jesus's divine authority, not just over sickness and sin as shown in previous verses (healing of the leper, healing of the paralytic and forgiving his sins in Lk 5:12-26), but over individuals and societal norms. Historically, tax collectors were reviled for collaborating with the Roman oppressors and for their often-corrupt practices, being considered ritually unclean and morally reprobate by devout Jews. For Jesus to dine with them was a scandalous act to the Pharisees and scribes, setting the stage for their immediate questioning in Lk 5:30 regarding why He associates with "sinners," which Jesus answers by stating He came to call sinners to repentance (Lk 5:31-32). This feast, therefore, marks a pivotal moment showcasing Jesus's inclusive mission and direct challenge to the legalistic purity culture of the religious establishment.

Luke 5 29 Word analysis

(h2)

• And (καί, kai): Connects directly to Levi's immediate obedience in Lk 5:28, indicating his prompt and joyful response to Jesus's call.
• Levi (Λευί, Leui): A tax collector, also known as Matthew (cf. Mt 9:9). His profession meant he was a societal outcast and religiously defiled in Jewish eyes. His calling and subsequent actions signify a profound and radical transformation.
• made (ἐποίησεν, epoiēsen): "did," "prepared," "made." Implies active intent and effort. Levi meticulously arranged a grand event, not a casual meeting, showcasing his fervent devotion and commitment.
• Him (αὐτῷ, autō): Referring to Jesus. The feast was directly "for Him," demonstrating Levi's immediate honor and public endorsement of his new Master.
• a great feast (δοχὴν μεγάλην, dochēn megalēn): Literally, "a great reception" or "a great banquet." The term "great" underscores the significant size and public nature of the gathering. It was an extravagant affair, possibly utilizing his ill-gotten wealth to honor Christ, signifying repentance and reallocation of resources for the Kingdom.
• in his own house (ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ αὐτοῦ, en tē oikia autou): His personal residence. Hosting Jesus and the outcasts in his home made the act intimate yet also a very public statement within his community, asserting his allegiance and bringing the light of Christ directly into the environment of sin.
• And there was (καὶ ἦν, kai ēn): Introduces the nature of the gathered company, emphasizing the significant presence of specific types of guests.
• a large company (ὄχλος πολὺς, ochlos polys): "Many people," "a large crowd." This was not an exclusive dinner but an open invitation, further emphasizing the public nature of Jesus's fellowship with marginalized people.
• of tax collectors (τελωνῶν, telōnōn): Plural form, indicating many guests shared Levi's former, disreputable profession. Their presence underlines Jesus's intentional focus on reaching those deemed "unworthy" by mainstream society.
• and others (καὶ ἄλλων, kai allōn): A broader category that included other "sinners" or social pariahs, such as prostitutes, common criminals, or those who did not adhere to the purity laws, further amplifying the controversial nature of Jesus's fellowship.
• who sat down with them (οἳ ἦσαν μετ’ αὐτῶν ἀνακείμενοι, hoi ēsan met' autōn anakeimenoi): Literally "who were reclining with them." Reclining was the customary posture for a formal banquet in ancient Israel, indicating intimate table fellowship. The presence of Jesus and His disciples among this company signified profound acceptance and shared humanity, bridging vast social and religious divides.

Luke 5 29 Bonus section

(h2)

• This feast foreshadows the Messianic banquet, a recurring biblical motif (Isa 25:6, Rev 19:9) where people from all backgrounds will feast with God, signifying full inclusion in His Kingdom.
• Levi's action of hosting the feast and inviting his former colleagues demonstrates a natural, practical overflow of true conversion. He didn't just leave his old life; he immediately became a "fisherman of men" among his own circle.
• The emphasis on "his own house" suggests the domestic setting as a vital space for evangelism and ministry, contrasting with formal religious venues. It grounds the transformational power of Christ within everyday life and relationships.
• The implicit tension between the "righteous" (Pharisees, who appear in the next verses) and the "sinners" at the feast highlights a key theme in Luke: Jesus's preference for the humble, marginalized, and penitent over the proud and self-sufficient.

Luke 5 29 Commentary

(h2)Luke 5:29 powerfully illustrates Jesus's counter-cultural ministry. Levi's instant, unreserved response to Jesus's call is celebrated through a grand feast, a public declaration of his transformed life. This act of hospitality immediately places Jesus among the very individuals that the religious establishment meticulously avoided: tax collectors and other societal outcasts. The feast wasn't just a meal; it was a visible enactment of Jesus's mission to seek and save the lost. By sharing a table, Jesus shattered social barriers and ceremonial purity laws, offering radical grace and demonstrating the inclusive nature of the Kingdom of God. This fellowship was deeply offensive to the Pharisees, but it showcased God's heart for those aware of their spiritual sickness, validating His purpose to call sinners to repentance rather than remaining with the self-proclaimed righteous. The event serves as a foundational moment, demonstrating God's welcoming love and the new community Christ inaugurated, built not on self-righteous exclusion, but on divine grace and a shared table.