Matthew 9:5-15

English Standard Version

⁵ For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? ⁶ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” ⁷ And he rose and went home. ⁸ When the crowds saw it, ^(A)they were afraid, and ^(B)they glorified God, who had ^(C)given such authority to men.

Jesus Calls Matthew

^9 (D)As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called ^(E)Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

¹⁰ And as Jesus^[a] reclined at table in the house, behold, many ^(F)tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. ¹¹ And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ^(G)“Why does your teacher eat with ^(H)tax collectors and sinners?” ¹² But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³ Go and learn ^(I)what this means: ^(J)‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For ^(K)I came not to call the righteous, ^(L)but sinners.”

A Question About Fasting

¹⁴ Then ^(M)the disciples of John came to him, saying, ^(N)“Why do we and ^(O)the Pharisees fast,^[b] but your disciples do not fast?” ¹⁵ And Jesus said to them, ^(P)“Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? ^(Q)The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and ^(R)then they will fast.