A Paralytic is Healed

Matt. 9:1–8; Mark 2:1–12

16 rSo He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and sprayed.

17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present 3to heal them. 18 tThen behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst ubefore Jesus.

20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

21 vAnd the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? wWho can forgive sins but God alone?”

22 But when Jesus xperceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, y“I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, zglorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they aglorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”

Matthew is Called

Matt. 9:9; Mark 2:13, 14

27 bAfter these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, c “Follow Me.” 28 So he left all, rose up, and dfollowed Him.

Jesus Eats with Sinners

Matt. 9:10–13; Mark 2:15–17

29 eThen Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And fthere were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. 30 4And their scribes and the Pharisees 5complained against His disciples, saying, g“Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 hI have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”