Story of Levi, Matthew the Tax Collector

Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32

One day, Jesus was outside with his disciples when he saw a tax collector sitting at the tax booth. The name of the tax collector is Levi.

Jesus said to Levi, “Come and follow me.”

When Levi heard what Jesus said to him, he immediately stands up and left the tax booth and followed Jesus and his named was changed to Matthew.

Then Levi gave a feast at his home. Many tax collectors were invited too Levi’s feast.

When the Pharisees saw Jesus’ disciples, they said, “Why do you eat with the tax collectors who are sinners?”

Jesus said, “Only people who are ill need to see the doctor. I have come to save the sinners and not the righteous.”

Then the Pharisees said, “Why does John’s disciples often fast and pray but your disciples often eat and drink like a glutton.”

Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast when he is with them. But the day will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them and there will be no more eating and drinking.”

Then Jesus told them a parable, “No one takes a cloth from a new garment to patch an old dress; and no one take a cloth from an old garment to patch a new dress because they will never match; No one will ever put new wine into old wine skin; likewise no one will put old wine into new wine skin; and no one who tasted old wine wants to drink the new wine.”