Jesus Calls Levi: An ESL Bible Study on Luke 5:27-32

This Bible study series is for people who are learning English. It is designed for advanced beginner and intermediate learners, but children or adults who prefer simple English may also enjoy it. I also have a Sunday School lesson on Luke 5:1-11 and Luke 5:27-32 that may work better for native English speakers.

Copyright Notice: All lessons and printables on this website are protected by copyright. You are welcome to download and print them for free for personal use, small groups, or Bible classes. You may share a link to this page, but please do not sell these materials or copy this content to other websites.

Luke 5:27-32 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 5:27-32 Printable ERV Passage

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Have you ever made a new friend in a surprising place? Where did you meet them?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will hear how Jesus asked a man named Levi to follow him. We will see how Levi left his job and invited his friends to meet Jesus. We will also learn how Jesus cares for people who others might leave out.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

change the way to live: (phrase) To stop doing bad things and start doing what God wants.
complain: (verb) To say that you are not happy about something.
doctor: (noun) A person whose job is to heal sick people.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
healthy: (adjective) Being well and not sick.
law: (noun) A set of rules that people must obey.
Pharisee: (noun) A religious leader who was very strict about rules.
sinner: (noun) A person who does things that God says are wrong.
tax collector: (phrase) A person whose job is to take money from people for the government.
taxes: (noun) Money paid to the government.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

began: (verb) To have started something.
change: (verb) To make something different.
change the way to live: (phrase) To stop doing bad things and start doing what God wants.
collect: (verb) To bring things together in one place.
complain: (verb) To say that you are not happy about something.
dinner: (noun) The main meal of the day.
doctor: (noun) A person whose job is to heal sick people.
follow: 1. (verb) To go after someone. 2. (verb) To obey or listen to the teaching of someone.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
gave: (verb) To have handed something over to another person.
got up: (phrase) To move the body from a sitting or lying position to a standing position.
healthy: (adjective) Being well and not sick.
law: (noun) A set of rules that people must obey.
left: (verb) To have gone away from a place.
need: (verb) To require something because it is important.
Pharisee: (noun) A religious leader who was very strict about rules.
sinner: (noun) A person who does things that God says are wrong.
taught: (verb) To have helped someone learn something.
tax collector: (phrase) A person whose job is to take money from people for the government.
taxes: (noun) Money paid to the government.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

after: (preposition) Later than another time or event.
ask: (verb) To invite someone to do something.
began: (verb) To have started something.
change: (verb) To make something different.
change the way to live: (phrase) To stop doing bad things and start doing what God wants.
collect: (verb) To bring things together in one place.
complain: (verb) To say that you are not happy about something.
dinner: (noun) The main meal of the day.
doctor: (noun) A person whose job is to heal sick people.
drink: (verb) To swallow a liquid.
eat: (verb) To put food in your mouth and swallow it.
everything: (pronoun) All things that exist.
follow: 1. (verb) To go after someone. 2. (verb) To obey or listen to the teaching of someone.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
gave: (verb) To have handed something over to another person.
got up: (phrase) To move the body from a sitting or lying position to a standing position.
healthy: (adjective) Being well and not sick.
Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
law: (noun) A set of rules that people must obey.
left: (verb) To have gone away from a place.
Levi: (noun) Another name for Matthew, who was a tax collector.
many: (adjective) A large number of people or things.
Matthew: (noun) A tax collector who became a follower of Jesus.
need: (verb) To require something because it is important.
other: (adjective) Different from the one already mentioned.
Pharisee: (noun) A religious leader who was very strict about rules.
place: (noun) A specific area, room, or location.
saw: (verb) To have looked at something with your eyes.
sick: (adjective) Not feeling well or having a disease.
sinner: (noun) A person who does things that God says are wrong.
some: (adjective) An amount that is not specific.
table: (noun) A piece of furniture with a flat top used for eating or working.
taught: (verb) To have helped someone learn something.
tax collector: (phrase) A person whose job is to take money from people for the government.
taxes: (noun) Money paid to the government.
too: (adverb) Also.
way: (noun) A path or a method of doing something.
went: (verb) To have moved to another place.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells about a man named Levi. Levi was a tax collector. In Bible times, a tax collector was a person whose job was to collect taxes from people for the government. Most people did not like them because they often took too much money and worked for a government that the people hated.

One day, Jesus saw Levi sitting at his place for collecting money. Jesus told Levi to follow him. Levi got up immediately. He left everything and became a follower of Jesus.

Levi was so happy that he gave a big dinner at his house for Jesus. He invited many other tax collectors and people who were called sinners. A sinner is someone who does things that God says are wrong. Some Pharisees and men who taught the law began to complain. These leaders asked the followers of Jesus why he would eat and drink with such people.

Jesus answered them with very wise words. He said that healthy people do not need a doctor, but sick people do. In the same way, Jesus said he did not come to ask good people to change. He came to ask sinners to change the way to live. Jesus wanted these people to stop doing bad things and start doing what God wants.

Levi is the same man who is called Matthew in other parts of the Bible. After he started to follow Jesus, he wrote one of the most important books in the Bible. This book is the Gospel of Matthew. It tells the story of the life and teachings of Jesus.

This passage teaches us that Jesus loves and cares for all people, even those others might leave out. Jesus wants to help people who know they need him.

Read The Passage

Most English learners should use the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV), or the Good News Translation (GNT). If you want to try something harder, you can read one of the other Bible versions.

Levi (Matthew) Follows Jesus
27 After this Jesus went out and saw a tax collector sitting at his place for collecting taxes.
His name was Levi.
Jesus said to him, “Follow me!”
28 Levi got up, left everything, and followed Jesus.
29 Then Levi gave a big dinner at his house for Jesus.
At the table there were many tax collectors and some other people too.
30 But the Pharisees and those who taught the law for the Pharisees began to complain to the followers of Jesus,
“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and other sinners?”
31 Jesus answered them,
“It is the sick people who need a doctor, not those who are healthy.
32 I have not come to ask good people to change.
I have come to ask sinners to change the way they live.”
Luke 5:27-32 (ERV)

Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 5:27-32 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 5:27-32 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 5:27-32 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 5:27-32 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 5:27-32 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 5:27-32 (ESV)

Luke 5:27-32 Printable ERV Passage

Comprehension Questions

What was Levi doing when Jesus first saw him?
What was the command Jesus gave to the tax collector?
How did Levi react to the words of Jesus?
What event did Levi organize at his house after meeting Jesus?
Who were the guests at the table with Jesus?
Why were the Pharisees and the teachers of the law unhappy?
What did the religious leaders ask the followers of Jesus?
Why did Jesus talk about healthy people and a doctor?
According to Jesus, why did he come to earth?
What is the other name for Levi and what book did he write?

Application Questions

How do you think Levi felt when Jesus asked him to be a follower?
Why do you think it was important for Levi to invite his friends to meet Jesus?
How do you feel when you see someone being left out by others?
Who is someone in your life that you can invite to learn about Jesus?
What is one way you can show kindness to someone who feels lonely this week?

Theological Insights

Jesus loves all people, even the ones that other people do not like.
Jesus calls us to leave our old ways behind and follow him.
Jesus is like a doctor for people who know they have a sick heart.
People who think they are perfect often miss the Good News of Jesus.
Jesus wants all sinners to change the way to live and follow God.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father,
We praise you because you are a God who welcomes everyone to your table.
We confess that we often judge other people instead of showing them your love.
Thank you for sending Jesus to call us to change the way to live.
Please help us to reach out to those who are lonely or left out in our town.
Amen.

Free Luke 5:27-32 ESL Bible study. In this Bible study for ESL students and teachers, we will hear how Jesus asked a man named Levi to follow him. We will see how Levi left his job and invited his friends to meet Jesus. We will also learn how Jesus cares for people who others might leave out. This complete lesson includes an icebreaker, passage summary, vocabulary list, discussion questions, theological insights, and a free printable PDF. #ESLBibleStudy #BibleStudyPrintable #ChristianESL #LearnEnglish

A Sunday School Lesson

If you prefer a lesson that is better for English speaking children, see my Sunday School lesson for Luke 5:1-11 and Luke 5:27-32. This lesson includes: