Some men brought to him a paralyzed man,(A) lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith,(B) he said to the man, “Take heart,(C) son; your sins are forgiven.”(D)

At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”(E)

Knowing their thoughts,(F) Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man(G) has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God,(H) who had given such authority to man.

The Calling of Matthew(I)

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,”(J) he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”(K)

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[a](L) For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”(M)

Jesus Questioned About Fasting(N)

14 Then John’s(O) disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often,(P) but your disciples do not fast?”

15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them?(Q) The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.(R)

16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

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(A)And they brought to Him a (B)paralyzed man lying on a stretcher. And seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man who was paralyzed, (C)Take courage, [a]son; (D)your sins are forgiven.” And some of the scribes said [b]to themselves, “This man is (E)blaspheming!” And Jesus, (F)perceiving their thoughts, said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘(G)Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that (H)the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He *said to the (I)paralyzed man, “Get up, pick up your stretcher and go home.” And he got up and [c]went home. But when the crowds saw this, they were [d]awestruck, and they (J)glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Matthew Called

(K)As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called (L)Matthew sitting in the tax collector’s office; and He *said to him, (M)Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.

10 Then it happened that as [e]Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and [f]sinners came and began dining with Jesus and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “(N)Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when Jesus heard this, He said, It is not (O)those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Now go and learn [g](P)what this means: ‘(Q)I desire [h]compassion, [i]rather than sacrifice,’ for (R)I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The Question about Fasting

14 Then the disciples of John *came to Him, asking, “Why do we and (S)the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “The [j]attendants of the groom cannot mourn as long as the groom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 But no one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for [k]the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results. 17 Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

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