A Paralyzed Man Healed

Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee and came to (A)His own city.

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

Matthew Called

(L)As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called (M)Matthew sitting in the tax collector’s office; and He *said to him, (N)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, “(O)Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when Jesus heard this, He said, It is not (P)those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Now go and learn [g](Q)what this means: ‘(R)I desire [h]compassion, [i]rather than sacrifice,’ for (S)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 (T)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.”

Miracles of Healing

18 (U)While He was saying these things to them, behold, [l]a synagogue [m]official came and [n](V)bowed down before Him, and said, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will become alive again.” 19 Jesus got up from the table and began to accompany him, along with His disciples.

20 And behold, a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind Him, and touched (W)the [o]border of His [p]cloak; 21 for she was [q]saying [r]to herself, “If I only (X)touch His cloak, I will [s]get well.” 22 But Jesus, turning and seeing her, said, “Daughter, (Y)take courage; (Z)your faith has [t]made you well.” And [u]at once the woman was [v]made well.

23 When Jesus came into the [w]official’s house and saw (AA)the flute players and the crowd in noisy disorder, 24 He said, “Leave; for the girl (AB)has not died, but is asleep.” And they began laughing at Him. 25 But (AC)when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and (AD)took her by the hand, and the girl [x]got up. 26 And (AE)this news spread throughout that land.

27 As Jesus went on from there, two men who were blind followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, (AF)Son of David!” 28 And after He entered the house, the men who were blind came up to Him, and Jesus *said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They *said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, [y]It shall be done for you (AG)according to your faith.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus (AH)sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows about this!” 31 But they went out and (AI)spread the news about Him throughout that land.

32 And as they were going out, behold, (AJ)a (AK)demon-possessed man who was unable to speak [z]was brought to Him. 33 And after the demon was cast out, the man who was previously unable to speak talked; and the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “(AL)Nothing like this has ever [aa]been seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees were saying, “He (AM)casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.”

35 Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, (AN)teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness.

36 (AO)Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them, (AP)because they were [ab]distressed and downcast, like sheep [ac]without a shepherd. 37 Then He *said to His disciples, (AQ)The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 9:2 Lit child
  2. Matthew 9:3 Lit among
  3. Matthew 9:7 Lit departed to his home
  4. Matthew 9:8 Lit afraid
  5. Matthew 9:10 Lit He
  6. Matthew 9:10 I.e., irreligious Jews
  7. Matthew 9:13 Lit what is
  8. Matthew 9:13 Or mercy
  9. Matthew 9:13 Lit and not
  10. Matthew 9:15 Lit sons of the wedding place
  11. Matthew 9:16 Lit that which fills up
  12. Matthew 9:18 Or one
  13. Matthew 9:18 Lit ruler
  14. Matthew 9:18 Or worshiped
  15. Matthew 9:20 Or tassel; i.e., a ritual tassel sewn to corners of garments for Jewish men
  16. Matthew 9:20 Or outer garment
  17. Matthew 9:21 Or thinking
  18. Matthew 9:21 Lit in herself
  19. Matthew 9:21 Lit be saved
  20. Matthew 9:22 Lit saved you
  21. Matthew 9:22 Lit from that hour
  22. Matthew 9:22 Lit saved
  23. Matthew 9:23 Lit ruler’s
  24. Matthew 9:25 Or was raised up
  25. Matthew 9:29 Or it is to be done; Gr imperative, i.e., a command
  26. Matthew 9:32 Lit they brought
  27. Matthew 9:33 Lit appeared
  28. Matthew 9:36 Or weary
  29. Matthew 9:36 Lit not having

And having gone to the boat, he passed over, and came to his own city,

and lo, they were bringing to him a paralytic, laid upon a couch, and Jesus having seen their faith, said to the paralytic, `Be of good courage, child, thy sins have been forgiven thee.'

And lo, certain of the scribes said within themselves, `This one doth speak evil.'

And Jesus, having known their thoughts, said, `Why think ye evil in your hearts?

for which is easier? to say, The sins have been forgiven to thee; or to say, Rise, and walk?

`But, that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power upon the earth to forgive sins -- (then saith he to the paralytic) -- having risen, take up thy couch, and go to thy house.'

And he, having risen, went to his house,

and the multitudes having seen, wondered, and glorified God, who did give such power to men.

And Jesus passing by thence, saw a man sitting at the tax-office, named Matthew, and saith to him, `Be following me,' and he, having risen, did follow him.

10 And it came to pass, he reclining (at meat) in the house, that lo, many tax-gatherers and sinners having come, were lying (at meat) with Jesus and his disciples,

11 and the Pharisees having seen, said to his disciples, `Wherefore with the tax-gatherers and sinners doth your teacher eat?'

12 And Jesus having heard, said to them, `They who are whole have no need of a physician, but they who are ill;

13 but having gone, learn ye what is, Kindness I will, and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call righteous men, but sinners, to reformation.'

14 Then come to him do the disciples of John, saying, `Wherefore do we and the Pharisees fast much, and thy disciples fast not?'

15 And Jesus said to them, `Can the sons of the bride-chamber mourn, so long as the bridegroom is with them? but days shall come when the bridegroom may be taken from them, and then they shall fast.

16 `And no one doth put a patch of undressed cloth on an old garment, for its filling up doth take from the garment, and a worse rent is made.

17 `Nor do they put new wine into old skins, and if not -- the skins burst, and the wine doth run out, and the skins are destroyed, but they put new wine into new skins, and both are preserved together.'

18 While he is speaking these things to them, lo, a ruler having come, was bowing to him, saying that `My daughter just now died, but, having come, lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.'

19 And Jesus having risen, did follow him, also his disciples,

20 and lo, a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, having come to him behind, did touch the fringe of his garments,

21 for she said within herself, `If only I may touch his garment, I shall be saved.'

22 And Jesus having turned about, and having seen her, said, `Be of good courage, daughter, thy faith hath saved thee,' and the woman was saved from that hour.

23 And Jesus having come to the house of the ruler, and having seen the minstrels and the multitude making tumult,

24 he saith to them, `Withdraw, for the damsel did not die, but doth sleep,' and they were deriding him;

25 but, when the multitude was put forth, having gone in, he took hold of her hand, and the damsel arose,

26 and the fame of this went forth to all the land.

27 And Jesus passing on thence, two blind men followed him, calling and saying, `Deal kindly with us, Son of David.'

28 And he having come to the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus saith to them, `Believe ye that I am able to do this?' They say to him, `Yes, sir.'

29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, `According to your faith let it be to you,'

30 and their eyes were opened, and Jesus strictly charged them, saying, `See, let no one know;'

31 but they, having gone forth, did spread his fame in all that land.

32 And as they are coming forth, lo, they brought to him a man dumb, a demoniac,

33 and the demon having been cast out, the dumb spake, and the multitude did wonder, saying that `It was never so seen in Israel:'

34 but the Pharisees said, `By the ruler of the demons he doth cast out the demons.'

35 And Jesus was going up and down all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the reign, and healing every sickness and every malady among the people.

36 And having seen the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, that they were faint and cast aside, as sheep not having a shepherd,

37 then saith he to his disciples, `The harvest indeed [is] abundant, but the workmen few;

38 beseech ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he may put forth workmen to His harvest.'

Jesus Heals a Crippled Man(A)

Jesus got into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. Some people brought to him a man who was paralyzed and was lying on a mat. Jesus saw that these people had much faith. So he said to the paralyzed man, “Young man, you will be glad to hear this. Your sins are forgiven.”

Some of the teachers of the law heard what Jesus said. They said to themselves, “What an insult to God for this man to say that!”

Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said, “Why are you thinking such evil thoughts? 5-6 The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. But how can I prove this to you? Maybe you are thinking it was easy for me to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ There’s no proof that it really happened. But what if I say to the man, ‘Stand up and walk’? Then you will be able to see that I really have this power.” So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Stand up. Take your mat and go home.”

The man stood up and went home. The people saw this and they were amazed. They praised God for letting someone have such power.

Matthew (Levi) Follows Jesus(B)

When Jesus was leaving, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the place for collecting taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” So he got up and followed Jesus.

10 Jesus ate dinner at Matthew’s house. Many tax collectors and others with bad reputations came and ate with him and his followers. 11 The Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with these people. They asked his followers, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and other sinners?”

12 Jesus heard them say this. So he said to them, “It is the sick people who need a doctor, not those who are healthy. 13 You need to go and learn what this Scripture means: ‘I don’t want animal sacrifices; I want you to show kindness to people.’[a] I did not come to invite good people. I came to invite sinners.”

Jesus Is Not Like Other Religious Leaders(C)

14 Then the followers of John came to Jesus and said, “We and the Pharisees fast often, but your followers don’t ever fast. Why?”

15 Jesus answered, “At a wedding the friends of the bridegroom are not sad while he is with them. They cannot fast then. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them. Then they will fast.

16 “When someone sews a patch over a hole in an old coat, they never use a piece of cloth that has not already been shrunk. If they do, the patch will shrink and pull away from the coat. Then the hole will be worse. 17 Also, people never pour new wine into old wineskins. They would break, the wine would spill out, and the wineskins would be ruined. People always put new wine into new wineskins, which won’t break, and the wine stays good.”

Jesus Gives Life to a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman(D)

18 While Jesus was still talking, a leader of the synagogue came to him. The leader bowed down before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But if you will come and touch her with your hand, she will live again.”

19 So Jesus and his followers went with the man.

20 On the way, there was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She came close behind Jesus and touched the bottom of his coat. 21 She was thinking, “If I can touch his coat, I will be healed.”

22 Jesus turned and saw the woman. He said, “Be happy, dear woman. You are made well because you believed.” Then the woman was healed.

23 Jesus continued going with the Jewish leader and went into the leader’s house. He saw people there who make music for funerals. And he saw a crowd of people crying loudly. 24 Jesus said, “Go away. The girl is not dead. She is only sleeping.” But the people laughed at him. 25 After the people were put out of the house, Jesus went into the girl’s room. He held the girl’s hand, and the girl stood up. 26 The news about this spread all around the area.

Jesus Heals More People

27 As Jesus was going away from there, two blind men followed him. They said loudly, “Show kindness to us, Son of David.”

28 Jesus went inside, and the blind men went with him. He asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to make you see again?” They answered, “Yes, Lord, we believe.”

29 Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, “You believe that I can make you see again, so it will happen.” 30 Then the men were able to see. Jesus gave them a strong warning. He said, “Don’t tell anyone about this.” 31 But they left and spread the news about Jesus all around that area.

32 As these two men were leaving, some people brought another man to Jesus. This man could not talk because he had a demon inside him. 33 Jesus forced the demon out, and the man was able to talk. The people were amazed and said, “We have never seen anything like this in Israel.”

34 But the Pharisees said, “The ruler of demons is the one that gives him power to force demons out.”

Jesus Feels Sorry for the People

35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages. He taught in their synagogues and told people the Good News about God’s kingdom. He healed all kinds of diseases and sicknesses. 36 Jesus saw the many people and felt sorry for them because they were worried and helpless—like sheep without a shepherd to lead them. 37 Jesus said to his followers, “There is such a big harvest of people to bring in. But there are only a few workers to help harvest them. 38 God owns the harvest. Ask him to send more workers to help gather his harvest.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 9:13 Quote from Hos. 6:6.