Matthew 9:14-26

Good News Translation

The Question about Fasting^(A)

¹⁴ Then the followers of John the Baptist came to Jesus, asking, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast at all?”

¹⁵ Jesus answered, “Do you expect the guests at a wedding party to be sad as long as the bridegroom is with them? Of course not! But the day will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

¹⁶ “No one patches up an old coat with a piece of new cloth, for the new patch will shrink and make an even bigger hole in the coat. ¹⁷ Nor does anyone pour new wine into used wineskins, for the skins will burst, the wine will pour out, and the skins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins, and both will keep in good condition.”

The Official's Daughter and the Woman Who Touched Jesus' Cloak^(B)

¹⁸ While Jesus was saying this, a Jewish official came to him, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died; but come and place your hands on her, and she will live.”

¹⁹ So Jesus got up and followed him, and his disciples went along with him.

²⁰ A woman who had suffered from severe bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak. ²¹ She said to herself, “If only I touch his cloak, I will get well.”

²² Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, my daughter! Your faith has made you well.” At that very moment the woman became well.

²³ Then Jesus went into the official's house. When he saw the musicians for the funeral and the people all stirred up, ²⁴ he said, “Get out, everybody! The little girl is not dead—she is only sleeping!” Then they all started making fun of him. ²⁵ But as soon as the people had been put out, Jesus went into the girl's room and took hold of her hand, and she got up. ²⁶ The news about this spread all over that part of the country.