Luke 5:29 Meaning: Levi's Great Feast
Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them.
And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
And Levi made him a great feast in his house: and there was a great multitude of publicans and of others that were sitting at meat with them.
And Levi made a great entertainment to him in his house, and there was a great multitude of tax-gatherers and others who were with them reclining (at meat),
And Levi made a great entertainment for him in his house, and there was a great crowd of tax-gatherers and others who were at table with them.
Meaning in one sentence
After leaving everything, Levi hosts a great feast for Jesus with tax collectors and sinners. Discover what this reveals about Jesus' welcoming mission.
Context
This verse sits in the middle of Luke's account of Jesus' early Galilean ministry. Jesus has just healed a paralyzed man, leaving the crowds amazed and saying they have seen strange things. Now he walks past a tax office, sees Levi sitting there, and speaks two simple words: 'Follow me.' Levi gets up, leaves everything, and follows. But that is not the end of the story. Levi uses his own house to throw a great banquet for Jesus. He invites his coworkers, other tax collectors, people the religious establishment looked down on, and many others. The feast becomes more than a celebration. It sets the stage for the Pharisees to ask why Jesus eats with such people, and for Jesus to answer that he came for the sick, not for those who think they are healthy.
Key Words
Two Greek words in this verse carry the warmth of what is happening. The word translated 'feast' is dochē, which comes from a root meaning 'to receive.' Levi is not simply serving food; he is receiving Jesus and all these people into his home. It is a reception. The word appears only here and later in Luke 14, where Jesus gives a similar command to invite the poor and outcast. The word for 'reclining' (katakeimenoi) describes the relaxed posture of guests at a formal meal, they are not in a hurry. And the word 'great' (megēn) appears twice: a great feast, a great crowd. Levi's welcome is lavish and unhurried. He opens his doors wide, and Jesus stays long enough to be accused of being a friend of sinners. The picture is not a quick meal but an intentional, joyful gathering where nobody rushes away.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across many traditions have seen this feast as a sign of Levi's gratitude and his desire to share his new joy. Wesley (Methodist) observed that the feast was 'necessarily great because of the great number of guests.' Barnes (Protestant) pointed out that Matthew, Levi's other Gospel name, chose not to mention this feast in his own account, a mark of humility. Calvin (Reformed) explained that Levi's leaving everything did not mean abandoning his house; he used his property to honor Christ. Gill (Baptist) saw in the feast the natural impulse of grace: to want others to meet the One who saved you. The Cambridge Bible (Anglican) notes that the word for feast means 'reception,' an open welcome.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think Levi's feast proves he did not really leave everything, as verse 28 says. In fact, 'left everything' means he abandoned his tax booth, his livelihood and his old identity. He did not abandon his house or possessions. Now he used them for a new purpose: to honor Jesus and invite his closest friends to meet him. The feast is not a contradiction; it is the first fruit of his new life.
Living This Out
Levi wasted no time. The moment Jesus changed his life, he opened his home and invited everyone he knew. This week, consider one person in your life who feels like they do not belong at Jesus' table. Is there a simple way you can extend a welcome, a meal, a coffee, an invitation? You do not need to host a crowd. A single invitation, offered with the same grateful heart Levi had, can let someone experience the same grace you have received. And when others question your company, remember Jesus' answer: the healthy do not need a doctor.
Main takeaway: Levi's great feast shows that following Jesus means opening our lives wide to welcome those who need grace.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Levi was so happy after Jesus said 'Follow me' that he had a big party! He invited all his friends, even the ones others did not like, to meet Jesus. Jesus was happy to be with them.
For ages 9, 12
Levi, also called Matthew, knew that following Jesus was the best thing that had ever happened to him. So he did not keep it to himself. He threw a big dinner and invited everyone he knew, especially the people others looked down on. He wanted them to meet Jesus too. That is what happens when you really know Jesus: you cannot help but share him with others.
Questions People Ask
Why did Levi throw a feast right after he was called?
Levi wanted to celebrate his new life with Jesus and introduce his friends to him. The feast was an act of gratitude and evangelism. He used his home to bring others into contact with Jesus, just as Matthew Henry says: true grace wishes for the salvation of others.
Doesn't 'leaving everything' contradict having a feast?
Leaving everything meant leaving his tax collection booth and that way of life. He still had his house and possessions, but now he used them for a new purpose: to honor Jesus and welcome others. Calvin explains that Levi left the custom-house but not his household.
Was it wrong for Jesus to eat with tax collectors and sinners?
The Pharisees thought so, but Jesus said he came for the sick, not for those who think they are healthy. Eating with sinners was central to his mission: he came to call them to repentance. He did not approve of their sin, but he offered them a seat at his table.
What does 'reclining' mean in this verse?
In ancient meals, people did not sit upright in chairs; they reclined on couches around low tables. It showed they were settling in for a relaxed meal. The Cambridge Bible notes that the Greek word implies a posture of leisure. Jesus did not rush through the meal.
Who are the 'others' mentioned in the verse?
The Greek word 'allos' means 'another' or 'other.' Gill notes that some Jewish writings used 'others' to refer to Gentiles. At the least, it means people besides tax collectors, likely other outcasts or common people. The crowd was diverse and not the 'right' kind of people by religious standards.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study