Translations
Modern
Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
Traditional
And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
Literal
And answering, Jesus said to them, “Those being in good health have no need of a physician, but those being ill.
Latin
Et respondens Jesus, dixit ad illos: Non egent qui sani sunt medico, sed qui male habent.
Original
Greek
English
Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
Notes
Jesus responded that, like a doctor, his mission was to work with sick people, not the healthy. Jesus was not called to minister to self-righteous people, but to those who recognized their spiritual need for God’s grace and healing.
When Jesus called Levi to become his disciple, this led to a second conflict with the religious leaders. It also introduced the idea that Jesus came to save sinners.
Theme notes and profiles
Events
- Jesus Calls Matthewc. AD 28
Parallels
People
Jesus: The Son of God and Savior of the world
Glossary
Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Luke, Gospel of Physician
Topics
Doctors Jesus, the Christ: Eats with Tax Collectors and Sinners, and Discourses on Fasting (Capernaum) Jesus, the Christ: Mission of Jesus, the Christ: Saviour Physician: Figurative Salvation: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To