· Translation: KJV

Luke 5:29Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them.

The setting

Levi's house in Capernaum, evening. Oil lamps flicker as tax collectors, customs officials, and other social outcasts recline on couches around low tables, eating and talking with Jesus and his disciples.

The emotion here: delighted at this celebration of transformation

The original word

dochēn (δοχήν) — a reception feast, specifically thrown to honor someone

Why it matters

Reclining while eating was Roman custom adopted by wealthy Jews — it showed this was a formal celebration

Read with care

What most readers miss in Luke 5:29

Levi used his wealth ONE LAST TIME — to introduce his entire network to Jesus before leaving it all behind

Common misconceptionPeople think new Christians should immediately cut off old friends. Levi showed how to use your influence to bring your old world to Jesus, not abandon them.

Bible Genome reading

Luke 5:29 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerLuke
Eragospel
Primary emotionjoyful
Literary typenarrative

Emotional genome

Comfort power60%
Quotability40%
Memorability60%
Crisis relevance10%
Standalone60%
Themes:celebrationfellowship

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Luke 5

Luke 5:29 comes from the book of Luke, written during the gospel period. These words are attributed to Luke. The dominant emotion in this verse is joyful, with a comfort power of 60% and a tone that is celebratory. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include celebration, fellowship. Notable phrases: great feast; great crowd.

Your reflection

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