Luke 5:31Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He spoke of a Pharisee who lifted himself up during prayer and contrasted him with a tax collector who recognized his own wrongdoing, declaring: "Verily I say unto you, that he went rather to his house justified than this Pharisee." (Luke 18:14) Thus, the contrite tax collector stands a better chance of being justified than the proud Pharisee. Yet why do the Pharisees condemn the Savior for dining with sinners? They argue that the law requires a separation between the sacred and the secular; the holy must not associate with the unholy. Their criticism is presented as an adherence to the law, but it stems from envy of the Lord and a desire to uncover imperfections. Nevertheless, He demonstrates that He comes not as a judge but as a healer, fulfilling the role of a physician by being with those who are in need of restoration. Before they can fully process this first reply, they launch a new accusation, questioning why His disciples do not observe fasting, seeking again to find grounds for criticism against Him.

The entire situation arose from the legalistic perspective, as the law, rigid in its justice, offered no compassion; therefore, every adulterer, murderer, and deceiver remained burdened by mortal sin without the possibility of forgiveness through repentance. The law required an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life (Ex. 21:23-24). Consequently, all have gone astray; they are altogether unworthy; there is none who does good, no, not one (Psalm 13:3). Yet where sin increased, grace overflowed (Romans 5:20). God sent His Son, born of a woman (Galatians 4:4), who dismantled the barrier, uniting both Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:13), and tempered the strictness of the law with the grace of the gospel. This is also why Paul extends a greeting in his epistles: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:7). Grace is a gift and not a reward earned by merit. This peace reconciles us to God, with our Lord Jesus Christ serving as our intercessor, who forgave our transgressions and nullified the record of our debt by nailing it to the cross, triumphing over rulers and authorities in His victory on the tree. What greater act of mercy exists than for the Son of God to become the Son of Man? To endure ten months of humility, to await the pains of birth, to be wrapped in swaddling cloths, to submit to His earthly parents, and to grow through all stages of life? After enduring scorn, punishment, and scourging, He bore for our sake the curse of the cross, freeing us from the curse of the law through His obedience unto death. He embodied in practice the prayer He uttered as our mediator: “Father, I desire that they also, whom You gave Me, may be with Me where I am” (John 17:22). Therefore, since Christ came to triumph by incomprehensible mercy over what the law deemed impossible—since none could be justified through it—He welcomed tax collectors and sinners to repentance, sharing in their feasts to reveal the truth even amidst their celebrations.

Those who find joy in their own virtues welcome Christ into their hearts and offer Him a lavish feast, which signifies the spiritual sustenance of righteous deeds, a blessing denied to the wealthy but bestowed upon the needy. This is why He proclaims that the attendants of the wedding cannot fast while the bridegroom is present (Luke 5:34). No one can sever the bond between you and Christ unless you choose to withdraw from Him. Do not allow your vanity or arrogance to create this separation; do not depend on the law, for the Lord did not come to seek the righteous, but the wayward (cf. Lk. 5:32, Mt. 9:13).

But how does the Lord cherish righteousness? (see Ps. 10:7) How did David assert that he never saw the righteous forsaken (Ps. 36:25)? Or what sort of justice permits the forsaking of the righteous while embracing the sinner? This can be understood only when we recognize that the righteous referred to here are those who rely on the law and do not pursue the grace offered by the gospel. Yet, no one is justified by the law (Gal. 3:11); it is grace that redeems (cf. Gal. 2:16; Gal. 5:4; Rom. 3:19, 24, 28). Thus, there may be righteousness present within the law, but true righteousness does not originate from the law. Even the apostle, a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee well-versed in the law and found blameless (Phil. 3:5, 6), boasted of his adherence to the law but declared, "What was gain to me, I counted as loss for Christ" (Phil. 3:7). This signifies a rejection of the righteousness associated with the law, for such righteousness apart from Christ is hollow; only in Christ does the law find its true fullness (cf. Rom. 10:4). If justification comes through adherence to the law, then Christ’s sacrifice was in vain (Gal. 2:21), for He died to fulfill the truth. In response to John's inquiry, "Should I be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" the Lord replied, "Permit it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:14, 15). Therefore, Christ did not die without purpose; He died for our sake so that the righteous might radiate like the sun in His kingdom (cf. Matthew 13:43). The unrighteous are represented by the Jews who hear, "When you see the righteous enter the kingdom of heaven" (cf. Lk. 13:28, Mt. 7:21). The true righteous are those who do not retaliate against an assailant and extend love even to their enemies (cf. 1 Pet. 2:23; Matt. 5:39, 44; Lk. 6:27). If we fail to understand whom the Lord labels as righteous, His teachings may seem paradoxical: "I have come to call the unrighteous" (Lk. 5:32). He does not summon those who consider themselves righteous, for in their ignorance of God and longing to establish their own righteousness, they have neglected submission to God's righteousness (Rom. 10:3). Thus, those who claim righteousness for themselves are excluded from grace. If grace results from repentance, then anyone who denies repentance denies grace. Those who regard themselves as holy will face divine consequences, and the Bridegroom will be taken away from them (cf. Matt. 9:15). Yet, neither Caiaphas nor Pilate can remove Christ from us; we do not fast because Christ remains with us, and we partake in the sacrament of His Body and Blood (cf. Jn. 6:53). How can one who is not hungry find himself fasting? How can one who is not thirsty go without food? How could he who drinks from Christ ever be thirsty, when Christ Himself declared, "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst" (John 4:14)? The meaning of His words on the fasting of the soul will be evident from the following: "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise, the new will tear, and the piece from the new will not match the old" (Luke 5:36).

In a hospital, the healer advises patients to abstain from anything that might obstruct their recovery. Likewise, Christ instructs believers to avoid all that may hinder their spiritual healing and eternal life. Patients in a hospital who seek to recover follow their physician's guidance; in the same manner, Christians seeking healing and salvation must heed Christ's counsel and shy away from all that He prohibits. Those who disregard the physician's instructions in a hospital often remain unwell; similarly, Christians who ignore Christ's teachings forfeit their healing and salvation.

At a hospital, individuals communicate their ailments to the physician, saying, "I am suffering from this and that." In the same way, Christians should reveal their struggles to Christ, the heavenly Healer, and earnestly seek His restoration. "It is not the healthy who have need of a physician, but the sick" (Matthew 9:12). Within a hospital, there are instances where patients do not receive healing; certain diseases are beyond cure, and the capacity of humans has limits. However, in the Church, there is no spiritual affliction that Christ cannot and does not wish to heal, provided that the individual sincerely desires, seeks, and asks for His help. Nothing is impossible for Him, as all creation submits to His word and will. Through His command, the lame walk, the lepers are healed, the blind see, the deaf hear, the dead rise, and the mute speak (See Matthew 11:5).

Recognize your ailments, Christian, and humbly request healing from the Physician while waiting with unwavering faith — you will surely receive it. Be cautious of anything that might obstruct His healing grace. In a hospital, those wishing to be healed submit themselves to the physician's care. Similarly, if Christians genuinely wish for healing, they must yield themselves to the wise and loving Physician, Jesus Christ, allowing Him to guide their recovery. Whether His prescribed treatment is bitter or sweet, all must be seen as beneficial. For Christ, the compassionate Doctor, is eager to heal our souls and bring us salvation. He entered the world for this purpose, undergoing suffering and death on our behalf. Just as He restored fragile mortal bodies, will He not also redeem immortal souls? Let us surrender ourselves to Him, permitting Him to heal us according to His divine will, while we strive to avoid anything that He prohibits that might interfere with His redemptive work.

What value is there in a cure for the sick if they cling to their own desires rather than follow the healer's guidance? Contemplate this, Christian, as you desire healing and salvation. We all bear spiritual ailments and require a Healer. Yet, not everyone acknowledges their afflictions. Recognizing one's weakness is the first step toward healing. Many remain unhealed because they do not recognize their condition, often due to a lack of self-examination. A person often identifies physical ailments and seeks remedy; however, few realize the urgency of healing their souls. The challenges of the soul are not visible to the naked eye, and only those who earnestly scrutinize their spiritual state can perceive their true condition.

Take a moment to reflect on the various ailments of your soul so that you can earnestly seek restoration from the divine Physician, Christ. The more one reflects on and understands their afflictions, the more fervently they will pursue healing. Physical ailments pose a risk of temporary death; however, spiritual maladies present the threat of eternal separation from God. Cease pursuing external distractions that often do more harm than good. Instead, examine the state of your soul and the afflictions that burden it, leading you toward death. You entered the sacred sanctuary of the Church seeking healing from Christ, the Savior, and the promise of everlasting life—not to chase honor, wealth, or trivial pursuits. You come to the infirmary for healing, not to fulfill personal desires.

Recognize your folly and turn from vanity toward Christ, striving to understand and confess the weaknesses of your soul so you may find healing in Him. "It is not the healthy who have need of a physician, but the sick" (Matthew 9:12). "I said: 'Lord! Have mercy on me; heal my soul, for I have sinned before You.' My wounds from my folly have grown and become serious" (Ps. 40:5, 37:6).

Do you not realize that this arrogance and lack of compassion for your fellow human beings are sins in themselves? Such attitudes, unnoticed by you, place you alongside those sinners in the eyes of the Holy God, compelling you to seek aid from the Healer who has come to the sick. God does not desire sacrifices in place of mercy; however, you withhold mercy to uphold a false sense of righteousness. I did not descend to earth for the so-called righteous, but for the broken and sinful. If those deemed righteous wish to draw near to Me, they too must acknowledge their own sinful nature.

This teaching from the divine Master ought to have further reinforced the newly called disciple’s belief that he was in the presence of the genuine Messiah, prompting him to abandon his prior pursuits and become a dedicated follower of Christ.