To call … to repentance.—The words εἰς μετάνοιαν are, according to the best reading, only found in Luke. The absolute καλέσαι in Matthew and Mark has, however, no other sense. Repentance is for the just-named sick, the restoration of the health of the soul.
Lange, J. P., & van Oosterzee, J. J. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Luke (P. Schaff & C. C. Starbuck, Trans.; p. 89). Logos Bible Software. (Public Domain)
Only sinners would need a call to repentance, a change of mind and life. For the moment Jesus accepts the Pharisaic division between “righteous” and “sinners” to score them and to answer their criticism. At the other times he will show that they only pretend to be “righteous” and are “hypocrites” in reality. But Jesus has here blazed the path for all soul-winners. The self-satisfied are the hard ones to win and they often resent efforts to win them to Christ.
Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Lk 5:32). Broadman Press. (Public Domain)
We are taught, lastly, in this passage about one of the main objects for Christ coming to this world. We have it in the well-known words, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (verse 32).
This is that great lesson of the Gospel which in one form or other we find continually taught in the New Testament. It is one we can never have too strongly impressed on our minds. Such is our natural ignorance and self-righteousness in religion that we are constantly losing sight of it. We need to be frequently reminded that Jesus did not come merely as a teacher but as the Saviour of that which was utterly lost, and that those only can receive benefit from him who will confess that they are ruined, bankrupt, hopeless, miserable sinners. One thing only let us never forget: Christ came to call us to repentance, and not to sanction our continuing in sin.
“Call … to repentance.” Let it be carefully noted here, as well as elsewhere, that our Lord’s call to sinners is not a bare call to become his disciples but a call to repentance.
Stella, the Spanish annotator, remarks on this verse, “You must not understand from this that Christ found some who were righteous. For the sentence of Paul is true: ‘All have sinned.’ Christ calls these scribes and Pharisees righteous, not because they were really so, but only according to the common estimation and appearance of them.”
Ryle, J. C. (1997). Luke (Lk 5:27–32). Crossway Books. (Public Domain)
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