# Connecting Statement:

When Jesus leaves the house, he calls Levi, the Jewish tax collector, to follow him. Jesus annoys the Pharisees and scribes because he attends a big meal that Levi prepares for him.

# After these things happened

The phrase "these things" refers to what happened in the previous verses. This signals a new event. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])

# saw a tax collector

"looked at a tax collector with attention" or "looked carefully at a tax collector"

# Follow me

To "follow" someone is to become that person's disciple. AT: "Be my disciple" or "Come, follow me as your teacher" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])

# leaving everything behind

"left his work as a tax collector"

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/jesus]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/taxcollector]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/names/matthew]]