¹⁷ One day while he was teaching, some Jewish religious leaders^[a] and teachers of the Law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was upon him.

^18-19 Then—look! Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to push through the crowd to Jesus but couldn’t reach him. So they went up on the roof above him, took off some tiles, and lowered the sick man down into the crowd, still on his sleeping mat, right in front of Jesus.

²⁰ Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “My friend, your sins are forgiven!”

²¹ “Who does this fellow think he is?” the Pharisees and teachers of the Law exclaimed among themselves. “This is blasphemy! Who but God can forgive sins?”

²² Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he replied, “Why is it blasphemy? ^23-24 I, the Messiah,^[b] have the authority on earth to forgive sins. But talk is cheap—anybody could say that. So I’ll prove it to you by healing this man.” Then, turning to the paralyzed man, he commanded, “Pick up your stretcher and go on home, for you are healed!”

²⁵ And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped to his feet, picked up his mat and went home praising God! ²⁶ Everyone present was gripped with awe and fear. And they praised God, remarking over and over again, “We have seen strange things today.”

²⁷ Later on as Jesus left the town he saw a tax collector—with the usual reputation for cheating—sitting at a tax collection booth. The man’s name was Levi. Jesus said to him, “Come and be one of my disciples!” ²⁸ So Levi left everything, sprang up, and went with him.

²⁹ Soon Levi held a reception in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests were there.

³⁰ But the Pharisees and teachers of the Law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples about his eating with such notorious sinners.

³¹ Jesus answered them, “It is the sick who need a doctor, not those in good health. ³² My purpose is to invite sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think themselves already good enough.”

¹⁰ Only a little while and the wicked shall disappear. You will look for them in vain. ¹¹ But all who humble themselves before the Lord shall be given every blessing and shall have wonderful peace.

^12-13 The Lord is laughing at those who plot against the godly, for he knows their judgment day is coming. ¹⁴ Evil men take aim to slay the poor; they are ready to butcher those who do right. ¹⁵ But their swords will be plunged into their own hearts, and all their weapons will be broken.

¹⁶ It is better to have little and be godly than to own an evil man’s wealth; ¹⁷ for the strength of evil men shall be broken, but the Lord takes care of those he has forgiven.^[a]

¹⁸ Day by day the Lord observes the good deeds done by godly men,^[b] and gives them eternal rewards. ¹⁹ He cares for them when times are hard; even in famine, they will have enough. ²⁰ But evil men shall perish. These enemies of God will wither like grass and disappear like smoke.