Καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἐξῆλθε καὶ ἐθεάσατο τελώνην ὀνόματι Λευῒν, καθήμενον ἐπὶ τὸ τελώνιον, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἀκολούθει μοι. (Luke 5:27)
A Grammatical Glance That Changes Everything
Luke 5:27 records a deceptively simple moment—Jesus passing by a tax collector named Levi, uttering just two words: ἀκολούθει μοι. Yet behind this brief command lies a web of participial structures, syntactic choices, and a theological imperative that reorders a man’s entire life.
This article explores:
- The force and aspect of the imperative ἀκολούθει
- The participial phrase καθήμενον ἐπὶ τὸ τελώνιον and spatial nuance
- The verb ἐθεάσατο as a moment of divine perception
- Thematic weight of μετὰ ταῦτα as narrative hinge
The Power of the Imperative: Ἀκολούθει
At the climax of the verse stands the simple command: ἀκολούθει μοι (“Follow me”). This is not a suggestion but a present active imperative, second person singular, from ἀκολουθέω.
Grammatical Force:
- Ἀκολούθει is a present imperative, indicating continuous or ongoing action.
- It is durative in aspect: not merely “begin to follow” but “keep following me.”
This is a call to lifelong discipleship, not a one-time event. The grammar underscores the unceasing nature of Christian obedience—Levi is to enter into a path, not a moment.
The Participial Pose: Levi at the Toll Booth
καθήμενον ἐπὶ τὸ τελώνιον modifies τελώνην and sets the scene physically and spiritually.
Structure:
- καθήμενον – present middle/passive participle, accusative masculine singular
- ἐπὶ τὸ τελώνιον – prepositional phrase indicating position “at the tax booth”
The participle paints Levi as seated, positioned, and rooted in his vocation—a picture of inertia and attachment. The preposition ἐπὶ with the accusative can imply motion or placement, but here context favors rest or occupation—Levi is settled into this role.
Jesus’s imperative slices through this settledness. From his static state, Levi is called into motion.
The Divine Gaze: ἐθεάσατο
The verb ἐθεάσατο (aorist middle of θεάομαι) is more than “saw.” It suggests a fixed, intentional gaze, often with evaluative or revelatory overtones.
Verbal Analysis:
- ἐθεάσατο – aorist middle indicative, 3rd person singular
- The aorist marks it as a decisive moment
- The middle voice reflects internal interest or personal involvement
Jesus does not glance. He beholds Levi with purpose. The grammar suggests that this look is part of the call—a gaze that both sees and summons.
μετὰ ταῦτα – After What?
The phrase καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα opens the verse, functioning as a narrative bridge.
Grammatical Note:
- μετὰ + accusative (ταῦτα) expresses sequence—“after these things”
- This is a standard Lucan way of progressing narrative, but it also has theological weight
What precedes this? Healings, cleansing, calling. Now comes calling from within corruption—Levi is not just sick or demonized; he is complicit in Rome’s system. μετὰ ταῦτα transitions us from healing to transformation.
Table: Movement in the Syntax
| Greek Phrase | Grammatical Insight | Spiritual Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ἀκολούθει μοι | Present imperative – continuous following | A call to lifelong discipleship |
| καθήμενον ἐπὶ τὸ τελώνιον | Participle + prepositional phrase | Levi rooted in a world Jesus calls him out of |
| ἐθεάσατο | Aorist middle – deliberate gaze | Christ sees with purpose, not curiosity |
From Station to Salvation: A Final Meditation
Jesus passes by. He sees. He speaks. And in just two words—ἀκολούθει μοι—He alters the course of a man’s eternity.
This verse is filled with motion: Jesus goes out (ἐξῆλθε), He looks (ἐθεάσατο), He speaks (εἶπεν), and He calls to a man seated at his post. Levi, defined by occupation and isolation, is drawn into community and purpose.
The Greek grammar reveals the divine cadence:
- The imperative calls not just for action, but for devotion.
- The participle shows the inertia Jesus breaks.
- The middle voice marks the Savior’s intentionality.
The sacred syntax of Luke 5:27 reminds us: no one is too settled, too seen, or too stationary to hear those words—Follow me.
