The Call of Levi (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Note
Exam code: 8062
13 Jesus went out again beside the lake; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. 14 As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.
15 And as he sat at dinner in Levi’s house, many tax-collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. 16 When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax-collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax-collectors and sinners?” 17 When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” (Mark 2:13–17)
Tax collectors in Palestine
Tax collectors were widely hated in society at the time of Jesus
Jews paid two types of taxes:
Temple tax for the upkeep of the Temple
Roman taxes, which were unpopular and which the tax collectors were employed to collect
Tax collectors had very bad reputations
They were renowned for being dishonest and greedy, collecting more money than they needed and using it to fund their own lifestyles
They were regarded as unclean because of the nature of their work
No one would ever have expected a tax collector to become a disciple of Jesus
Jesus and Levi
Jesus called Levi using the words “Follow me”
Levi immediately got up from his tax collector’s booth and followed Jesus
Jesus went to Levi’s house to eat with him and a group of people, including other tax collectors
This was a sign of approval. Jesus was showing that he was happy to associate and socialise with Levi and his friends
The Pharisees were Jewish teachers who were concerned with keeping every detail of the law
They were unhappy that Jesus was associating with “tax collectors and sinners”
Jesus challenged their attitudes in his response:
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)
Jesus was challenging the Pharisees here
He argued that his role was to reach out to the “sinners”, to engage with the people they regarded as outcasts
In doing so, Jesus was setting an example of compassion and help over judgement and punishment for wrongdoing
Jesus clearly believed that by engaging with these people and showing love and care, they would hear his message and become disciples and enter the Kingdom of God
Christianity today and the call of Levi
Jesus’s message was clear: He had a mission to help those who were considered “outcasts”
Christians today try to follow the example of Jesus by working with people who are considered to be on the fringes of society and need compassion and support
For example, local churches and organisations such as The Salvation Army work with the homeless and people in food poverty, running food banks and serving meals to provide practical and emotional support
Worked Example
What did Jesus mean when he said, “I have come to call not the righteous but sinners”?
A. That the Pharisees thought of themselves as righteous, but Jesus’s mission was to those in need of forgiveness
B. That his mission was to reach out to those rejected as outcasts and bring them into God’s kingdom
C. That only tax collectors could become his disciples
D. That sin was not a serious problem in people’s lives
[1 mark]
Answer:
B. That his mission was to reach out to those rejected as outcasts and bring them into God’s kingdom
Jesus showed that he came to restore and forgive those labelled as “sinners”.
A is close but incomplete — while it reflects the Pharisees’ attitude, Jesus’s words applied more broadly. C is incorrect, as many disciples were not tax collectors. D is also wrong, as Jesus treated sin seriously.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Throughout this section, ensure you can not only relate the encounters Jesus had with those who were disregarded by society but also explain why they were important and how they set an example for Christians today.
Practise answering this 4-mark question:
Explain two ways in which the call of Levi is important for Christians today. [4 marks]
Here is a sample answer:
One way is that it shows Christians that they should welcome and include people who others might reject. Jesus chose Levi, a hated tax collector, which reminds Christians to reach out to those on the margins of society.
Another way is that it teaches Christians to combine faith with practical action. Jesus ate with Levi and his friends, showing love in action. Today, Christians follow this example through supporting local groups and organisations such as The Salvation Army, which provides food and support to the poor.
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