The Publican Disciple
And Jesus went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. And as he passed by, he saw a man, called Levi Matthew, the son of Alphæus, sitting at the place of toll, and he saith unto him, “Follow me.”
And he forsook all, and arose and followed him.
And Levi made him a great feast in his house. And there was a great multitude of publicans and sinners that were sitting at meat with Jesus and his disciples.
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, “Why eateth your Teacher with the publicans and sinners?”
But when he heard it, he said, “They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what this meaneth, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice’: for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”