After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners." (Lk 5:27-32)
Jesus moved towards Levi who was a tax collector. Tax collectors were not popular among the people of Israel for the reason that they were working for Romans. They were in contact with the Romans and hence they polluted. They were ritually unclean. Because they were in touch with the Romans they were also suspected because they were collaborating with the enemies.
Levi threw a party open. Naturally the people who came for it were all tax collectors and their associates. Probably there was gathering of people who were under suspicion and who were also ritually unclean. Pharisees and the scribes would not part of this gathering. As usual they were only watchers of the event and grumblers about what was happening around.
Jesus has broken into another world where ordinary Jew would not go into. He had done it earlier with the lepers. He touched the lepers and made himself unclean. Now he was at table with the tax collectors. He was affirming his relationship with the sinners. Jesus was questioned on his way of dealing. Jesus was very clear and sure about his dealings. A doctor has to be close to the sick if he wanted to treat the sick. Jesus was ‘forgiveness walking about’. Forgiveness has to be shared with the sinners.
