A.D. 28, Age 31. Capernaum.
Luke 5, 27-39; Matthew 9, 9-17; Mark 2, 13-22.
JESUS went forth again by the sea side; and the multitudes resorted unto him, and he taught them.
¶As he passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew (Levi, a publican *), sitting at the receipt of custom: he said unto him,
Follow me.
And he rose up, left all, and followed Jesus.
¶Levi made him a great feast † in his own house: and, behold, many publicans and others sat at meat with Jesus and his disciples.
But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat with publicans and sinners? Why eateth your master with publicans and sinners?
When Jesus heard that, he saith unto them,
They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth. I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: ‡ for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
¶The disciples of John used to fast often: and they come and say unto Jesus, Why do thy disciples fast not? Jesus said unto them,
Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
¶And he spake also a parable unto them,
No man also seweth a piece of new cloth upon an old garment; else the new piece that filleth it up agreeth not with the old: it taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
Another parable put he forth.
And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: *else the bottles will be marred: the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new; for he saith, The old is better.
26:* publican: a taxgatherer.
26:† The three accounts of Levi's feast (particularly of the bridechamber parable) exhibit interesting variations of text: Luke 5, 29-39; Mark 2, 15-22; Matthew 9, 10-17.
26:‡ Hosea 6. 6.
Most of the teaching of Jesus are recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The Complete Sayings of Jesus presents every word spoken by Jesus in one place and provides an index to assist in finding specific ocassions, places and/or events. It is a must read aid for serious Bible study.
He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, saith the Lord. These are the words of Christ; and they direct us to imitate his life and character. The Imitation of Christ is guide to following the example of Jesus Christ. Let it be our most earnest study to dwell upon the life and example of Jesus.
The Apocrypha books are 14 books that were included between the old and new testaments in the original King James Version of the bible and many others. Church leaders agreed that these books were valuable for instruction in life and manners, but did not all agree that they should be considered canon.
The Childrens Bible provides bible lessons from the Old and New testaments. There are 216 stories written in plain english. The stories are easy to read and understand but they are not just for childern. It is a pleasure to read and enjoy these important stories.