¹³ It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise^(A) that he would be heir of the world,^(B) but through the righteousness that comes by faith.^{(C) 14} For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,^{(D) 15} because the law brings wrath.^(E) And where there is no law there is no transgression.^(F)

¹⁶ Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace^(G) and may be guaranteed^(H) to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.^{(I) 17} As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”^[a](J) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life^(K) to the dead and calls^(L) into being things that were not.^(M)

¹⁸ Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,^(N) just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”^{[b](O) 19} Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead^(P)—since he was about a hundred years old^(Q)—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.^{(R) 20} Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened^(S) in his faith and gave glory to God,^{(T) 21} being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.^{(U) 22} This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”^{(V) 23} The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, ²⁴ but also for us,^(W) to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him^(X) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.^{(Y) 25} He was delivered over to death for our sins^(Z) and was raised to life for our justification.^(AA)

The Calling of Matthew^(A)

⁹ As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,”^(B) 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?”^(C)

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](D) For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”^(E)

Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman^(A)

¹⁸ While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him^(B) and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her,^(C) and she will live.” ¹⁹ Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.

²⁰ Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.^{(D) 21} She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

²² Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart,^(E) daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.”^(F) And the woman was healed at that moment.^(G)

²³ When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes,^{(H) 24} he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead^(I) but asleep.”^(J) But they laughed at him. ²⁵ After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.^{(K) 26} News of this spread through all that region.^(L)