Mark 2:14 kjv
And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
Mark 2:14 nkjv
As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him.
Mark 2:14 niv
As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.
Mark 2:14 esv
And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him.
Mark 2:14 nlt
As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.
Mark 2 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 2:15-17 | Then as Jesus sat at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors... | Jesus dines with tax collectors and sinners. |
| Mt 9:9 | As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at... | Parallel account of Matthew's (Levi's) call. |
| Lk 5:27-28 | After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting | Parallel account of Levi's call. |
| Lk 5:29-32 | Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great | Levi hosts a feast, Jesus comes for sinners. |
| Mk 1:16-20 | He saw Simon and Andrew casting a net... James the son of Zebedee... | The call of the first disciples (fishermen). |
| Mt 4:18-22 | And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers... | Parallel account of the first disciples' call. |
| Lk 5:1-11 | So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God... | Peter's miraculous catch and call to follow. |
| Jn 1:43-51 | The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee... Found Philip and... | The call of Philip and Nathanael. |
| Mk 8:34-37 | When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples... | Requirements for discipleship: deny self, take up cross. |
| Lk 9:23 | Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me... | Parallel teaching on discipleship. |
| Lk 14:26-27 | If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother... | Cost of discipleship: supreme allegiance to Christ. |
| Mt 11:19 | The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look... | Jesus accused of being a "friend of tax collectors and sinners." |
| Lk 15:1-2 | Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear... | Pharisees complain about Jesus receiving sinners. |
| Lk 18:9-14 | Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they... | Parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, illustrating humility. |
| Lk 19:1-10 | Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was... | Zacchaeus, another tax collector, called and saved. |
| Mt 21:31-32 | “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom | Tax collectors and harlots believe John, while religious leaders reject. |
| Rom 5:8 | But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still | God shows His love by saving sinners. |
| 1 Tim 1:15 | This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus | Christ came to save sinners. |
| Isa 55:1 | "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money | Invitation to salvation is for all. |
| Ezek 36:26-27 | I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you... | God promises radical inward transformation. |
| 2 Cor 5:17 | Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation... | The profound change experienced upon conversion. |
| Acts 10:34 | Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows | God's impartiality; He welcomes all who fear Him. |
Mark 2 verses
Mark 2 14 Meaning
Mark 2:14 describes the specific calling of Levi, a tax collector, to become one of Jesus's disciples. It powerfully illustrates Jesus's radical inclusivity, extending the invitation to follow Him to those considered outcasts and "sinners" by society and religious elites. This call demonstrates that salvation and discipleship are open to all, irrespective of past occupations or social stigma, and highlights the transformative power of Jesus's word, eliciting immediate and complete obedience.
Mark 2 14 Context
Mark 2:14 occurs within Jesus's early ministry in Galilee, immediately following the controversial healing of the paralytic, where Jesus demonstrated His authority to forgive sins and was challenged by scribes. This incident sets the stage for the recurring conflict between Jesus and the religious establishment. By calling Levi, a tax collector (Matthew), Jesus intentionally reaches out to an individual highly scorned and marginalized in Jewish society. Tax collectors were seen as traitors to their people for collaborating with the Roman occupiers and were often extorting money, placing them in the same social category as "sinners," prostitutes, and Gentiles. This act further solidifies Jesus's compassionate mission towards the lost and marginalized, simultaneously escalating the tension with the religious authorities who believed He should associate only with the righteous. The subsequent verses (Mk 2:15-17) explicitly describe Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners, leading to the Pharisees' objection and Jesus's definitive statement that He came not for the healthy but for the sick, not for the righteous but for sinners.
Mark 2 14 Word analysis
- As He passed by (παράγων, paragōn): Indicates Jesus was on the move, actively engaged in His ministry. It implies an intentional observation, not a casual glance.
- He saw (εἶδεν, eiden): More than just physical sight; it conveys a discerning, knowing look that goes beyond Levi's outward appearance and social status. Jesus saw Levi's heart and potential.
- Levi the son of Alphaeus: Levi is identified by his patronymic. While other apostles include a "James the son of Alphaeus," it's highly unlikely to be the same Alphaeus. Levi is traditionally identified as Matthew, the author of the first Gospel (as stated in Matthew 9:9). Giving both names or the switch implies his identity transformation after his calling.
- sitting at the tax office (καθήμενον ἐπὶ τὸ τελώνιον, kathēmenon epi to telōnion): Clearly establishes Levi's profession. A "tax office" was likely a booth or small building where customs duties, road tolls, and other taxes were collected for the Roman authorities. "Sitting" indicates he was actively working. This phrase highlights his societal position and the setting of his former life, a place of common, public occupation.
- And He said to him: Direct and personal communication. Jesus initiates the interaction, showing divine sovereignty and grace.
- "Follow Me." (Ἀκολούθει μοι, Akoulouthy moi): This is a direct command and a profound invitation to discipleship. In the ancient world, "following" a rabbi meant more than physical accompaniment; it implied adopting his teachings, way of life, and mission. It required abandoning one's previous life and allegiances for a radical new path with Christ.
- So he arose and followed Him: This indicates immediate, unqualified, and decisive obedience. Levi left behind a lucrative profession and its associated status (however despised by some) without hesitation. This response parallels the immediate obedience of the fishermen called earlier (Mk 1:18, 20), showcasing genuine faith and the transformative power of Jesus's call. It represents a complete break from his old life.
Mark 2 14 Bonus section
The choice of a tax collector as an apostle profoundly illustrates the upside-down kingdom values that Jesus embodies and teaches. It underscores the truth that God’s ways are not humanity’s ways; He often chooses the "foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and the weak things of the world to shame the strong" (1 Cor 1:27). The very individual whom society condemned and rejected became a chosen instrument for the advancement of the Kingdom, potentially even writing a Gospel, serving as a powerful testimony to Jesus's mission to "seek and to save that which was lost" (Lk 19:10). This call signifies the accessibility of the Gospel to all people, regardless of their past or present societal standing.
Mark 2 14 Commentary
Mark 2:14 encapsulates the revolutionary nature of Jesus's ministry. His act of calling Levi, a tax collector, was profoundly counter-cultural. In Jewish society, tax collectors were vilified for their collaboration with Rome and their frequent exploitation of their own people, rendering them social and religious outcasts. By selecting Levi, Jesus deliberately bypassed the outwardly righteous and instead demonstrated that His saving grace extends to those whom society deemed irredeemable. This challenges the exclusive notions of God's favor prevalent among the religious authorities of the day. The simple command "Follow Me" offered Levi a new identity and purpose, immediately met with complete surrender, highlighting that the true call of Christ is for an absolute reorientation of one's life. It sets the precedent for all who would become His disciples, emphasizing God's mercy over human merit and a radical commitment to Christ above all else. This divine invitation is freely offered, but demands an all-encompassing, transformative response.