Parallel Gospels 19 - The Call of Matthew

Matthew 9:9-13Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

The Call of Matthew

9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and He said to him,“Follow Me!” So he got up and followed Him.

10 While He was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came as guests to eat[a] with Jesus and His disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12 But when He heard this, He said, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do. 13 Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.[b] For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”[c]

Mark 2:13-17Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

The Call of Matthew

13 Then Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to Him, and He taught them. 14 Then, moving on, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” So he got up and followed Him.

Dining with Sinners

15 While He was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also guests[a] with Jesus and His disciples, because there were many who were following Him. 16 When the scribes of the Pharisees[b]saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors,they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat[c] with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 When Jesus heard this, He told them, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do need one. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Luke 5:27-32Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

The Call of Matthew

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” 28 So, leaving everything behind, he got up and began to follow Him.

Dining with Sinners

29 Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for Him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were guests[a] with them.30 But the Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to His disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31 Jesus replied to them, “The healthy don’t need a doctor, but the sick do. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”