Levi collects taxes for the Roman Empire, and so his fellow Jews hate him for being a collaborator of the colonizers. No wonder, he is branded as a sinner, lumped with the likes of prostitutes and thieves.

Jesus of Nazareth passes by Levi’s customs post, and with a word of command tells him, “Follow me” (v 14). Levi is surprised, but happily obeys. He prepares a dinner at his house to welcome Jesus and his company and to bid adieu to family and friends before joining Jesus’ itinerant group. Naturally, his guest list includes his colleagues at the customs post, mostly tax collectors who are despised by most people as sinners. Quite curiously, also present at the party are several scribes who raise their eyebrows and question the propriety of Jesus eating with tax collectors: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (v 16). One group is precisely that of the Pharisees, known as “the separated ones” because they do not associate with sinners. Levi, who has received mercy from the Lord, is chosen and later sent to proclaim the Gospel. He is known as “Matthew” in the first Gospel, the Gospel that bears the name.

There was a stalwart man from Benjamin named Kish, who was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite. He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man. There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people.

Now the asses of Saul’s father, Kish, had wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go out and hunt for the asses.” Accordingly they went through the hill country of Ephraim, and through the land of Shalishah. Not finding them there, they continued through the land of Shaalim without success. They also went through the land of Benjamin, but they failed to find the animals.

When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord assured him, “This is the man of whom I told you; he is to govern my people.” Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said, “Please tell me where the seer lives.” Samuel answered Saul: “I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. In the morning, before dismissing you, I will tell you whatever you wish.”

Then, from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head; he also kissed him, saying: “The Lord anoints you commander over his heritage. You are to govern the Lord’s people Israel, and to save them from the grasp of their enemies roundabout.

“This will be the sign for you that the Lord has anointed you commander over his heritage.”

“Lord, in your strength the king is glad.”

Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”