Luke 5:31 kjv
And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
Luke 5:31 nkjv
Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Luke 5:31 niv
Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
Luke 5:31 esv
And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Luke 5:31 nlt
Jesus answered them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor ? sick people do.
Luke 5 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 9:12 | "But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." | Parallel account of Jesus' words explaining His mission to sinners. |
| Mk 2:17 | "When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick..." | Another parallel, highlighting His purpose to call sinners. |
| Lk 5:32 | "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." | Immediate follow-up verse, explicitly stating the goal of His calling. |
| Lk 19:10 | "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." | Defines Jesus' overarching purpose for His earthly ministry. |
| 1 Tim 1:15 | "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..." | Paul's theological affirmation of Christ's core mission. |
| Isa 61:1 | "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek..." | Prophetic foretelling of the Messiah's ministry to the broken and needy. |
| Lk 4:18-19 | "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me... to preach deliverance to the captives... to set at liberty them that are bruised..." | Jesus' inaugural sermon, announcing His mission to the spiritually oppressed. |
| Lk 15:7 | "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth..." | Emphasizes the heavenly joy over repentance, fitting Jesus' focus on sinners. |
| Lk 13:3 | "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." | Highlights the necessity of repentance for salvation, aligned with Jesus' call. |
| Acts 3:19 | "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out..." | Apostolic teaching reflecting the call to repentance, echoing Jesus' ministry. |
| 2 Cor 7:10 | "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of..." | Describes the kind of sorrow that leads to genuine repentance and salvation. |
| Isa 1:5-6 | "...the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it..." | Describes Israel's spiritual corruption as pervasive sickness, necessitating divine healing. |
| Psa 147:3 | "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." | Depicts God as a healer of the emotionally and spiritually broken. |
| Jer 8:22 | "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?" | Metaphor of Israel's incurable spiritual wounds and longing for a divine healer. |
| Jn 9:41 | "Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth." | Jesus addressing the spiritual blindness of those who claim to see. |
| Rev 3:17-18 | "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods... and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by the fire, that thou mayest be rich..." | Jesus calls out spiritual self-deception and offers true spiritual riches and healing. |
| Lk 18:9-14 | Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. | Illustrates the humility of the "sinner" being justified over the self-righteous. |
| Pro 26:12 | "Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him." | Proverbs warns against self-righteousness, correlating with Jesus' view of the "whole." |
| Pro 28:13 | "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." | Underscores the path to mercy for those who acknowledge their sinfulness. |
| Rom 3:23 | "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" | Universal declaration of sinfulness, meaning all need the spiritual physician. |
| Hos 6:6 | "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." | Jesus quotes this elsewhere, aligning His compassion with God's desire for inner transformation over external rituals. |
| Jn 3:17 | "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." | Explains the salvific purpose of Jesus' coming, for those needing rescue. |
Luke 5 verses
Luke 5 31 Meaning
Jesus responds to the criticism of His associating with tax collectors and "sinners" by likening Himself to a physician. He declares that His mission is directed towards those who acknowledge their spiritual sickness and need for divine healing, rather than those who believe themselves to be spiritually "whole" or righteous and thus perceive no need for Him. This statement defines His core purpose: to call sinners to repentance and bring salvation to the lost.
Luke 5 31 Context
Luke 5:31 occurs immediately after the Pharisees and scribes express their indignation at Jesus eating and drinking with tax collectors and "sinners" (Lk 5:30). Levi, a tax collector, has just been called by Jesus to be a disciple, and he hosts a great feast with many fellow tax collectors and others, prompting the religious leaders' critical question. Jesus' response in verse 31 is not merely an explanation of His dining choices but a profound theological declaration about the nature of His ministry and God's saving grace. It frames the mission of Christ as a divine intervention for those who are spiritually lost and in need of redemption.
Luke 5 31 Word analysis
- And Jesus answering said unto them: This phrase signifies a direct and authoritative rebuttal to the Pharisees' accusation. Jesus' response is deliberate and purposeful, setting the record straight about His actions.
- They that are whole (οἱ ὑγιαίνοντες, hoi hygiainontes): Literally means "the healthy ones" or "those who are in good health." In this context, it refers metaphorically to individuals who perceive themselves as morally and spiritually sound, self-sufficient in righteousness, and thus in no need of repentance or God's salvific intervention. This particularly refers to the self-righteous religious leaders of the day.
- need not (οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν, ou chreian echousin): Signifies a lack of perceived necessity or dependence. It implies that from their perspective, they do not require a spiritual physician because they mistakenly believe they are spiritually healthy.
- a physician (ἰατροῦ, iatrou): Refers to a doctor or healer. Jesus uses this metaphor to describe Himself. As a physician cures physical ailments, Jesus brings spiritual healing and restoration to those afflicted by sin.
- but (ἀλλ’ , all’): This is a strong adversative conjunction, introducing a direct contrast. It emphasizes the stark difference between those who consider themselves whole and those who are genuinely sick.
- they that are sick (οἱ κακῶς ἔχοντες, hoi kakōs echontes): Literally "those who are badly off," "those who have evil/badly." This refers to those who are spiritually ill, burdened by sin, or broken by its consequences. These are the "sinners" and marginalized whom Jesus actively sought out because they acknowledged their need for healing and forgiveness. This signifies a recognition of their sinful state and need for God.
Words-group analysis
- "They that are whole need not a physician": This phrase characterizes the self-righteous attitude of those who are blind to their own spiritual sickness. It underscores a key impediment to salvation: a failure to recognize one's profound need for a Savior. Such individuals believe they are healthy and therefore do not seek the Great Physician.
- "but they that are sick": This contrasting phrase identifies the target and beneficiaries of Jesus' ministry. It defines those who are receptive to His message and healing power – those who are humble enough to admit their sinfulness and brokenness. This group includes the very tax collectors and sinners with whom Jesus was criticized for associating.
Luke 5 31 Bonus section
This verse implies that recognizing one's spiritual brokenness is the first step toward salvation. Those who deem themselves spiritually "whole" are in a more perilous state, as their pride blinds them to the cure. Jesus, as the physician, demonstrates that God's grace extends precisely to those deemed beyond the pale by human religious standards, thereby overturning conventional notions of purity and holiness. His presence among "sinners" was an active outreach, not an endorsement of their sin, but a compassionate extension of the healing hand of God, calling them to new life through repentance. This truth applies personally to believers, emphasizing that a continual posture of humility and reliance on Christ is crucial for spiritual well-being and growth.
Luke 5 31 Commentary
In Luke 5:31, Jesus powerfully justifies His mission and associations. His identity as the divine "physician" for humanity's deepest malady—sin—is central. He declares that His presence and ministry are fundamentally for the spiritually ill, not for those who are in a state of self-proclaimed righteousness. The "whole" (Pharisees and scribes) exemplify spiritual arrogance, failing to see their own need for repentance. Conversely, the "sick" (tax collectors and "sinners") embody humility and awareness of their brokenness, making them ready recipients of God's grace. Jesus is not condoning sin, but demonstrating God's accessibility and readiness to heal those who acknowledge their sickness and seek Him. This statement directly challenges the legalistic and exclusive religious systems of the time, revealing God's heart for transformation and repentance over ritual purity alone. True salvation begins not with self-justification, but with a humble recognition of one's desperate spiritual need.