Luke, 5
27. After this he went out, and saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me."
27. After this he went out, and saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me."
Luke chapter 5 begins with the miraculous fishing performed by Jesus, which draws the disciples' attention and leads them to follow him. Then Jesus heals a leper and a paralytic, and calls Levi (also known as Matthew) to follow him, which causes controversy among the Pharisees. Finally, Jesus compares his message to the need to put new wine into new odors, indicating that his preaching cannot be understood by ancient traditions.
Proverbs 28:13: "Which covers your transgressions will never prosper, but what confesses them and will reach mercy." This verse emphasizes the importance of confession and repentance, something that is illustrated in the history of the paralytic healed by Jesus in Luke 5:17-26.
Isaiah 43:25: "I, myself, I am what I delete your transgressions for the sake of me and your sins I don't remember." This verse highlights the forgiveness offered by God, which is shown in the healing of the leper in Luke 5:12-16.
Matthew 9:12: "And Jesus, hearing this, replied, The healthy do not need a doctor, but the sick." This verse shows Jesus' posture to approach sinners and sick, which is illustrated in his choice to call Levi, a publican, to be one of his disciples in Luke 5:27-32.
Mark 2:22: "And no one lays new wine in old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will break the odds and both the wine and the odres are lost; but new wine lies in new wings." This verse is similar to the metaphor used by Jesus in Luke 5:37-39 to explain that his message cannot be limited by ancient traditions.
Luke 15:7: "I tell you that there will be greater joy in heaven by a sinner who repents than for ninety-nine righteous who do not need repentance." This verse shows the importance that Jesus gives to the repentance and salvation of sinners, which is exemplified in his interaction with Levi in Luke 5:27-32.
“O grau sublime da humildade é não só reconhecer a abnegação, mas amá-la.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
