The Son of Man Forgives and Heals

1So he got into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own town.a 2Just thena some menA brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.”b

3At this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “He’s blaspheming! ”a

4Perceiving their thoughts,a Jesus said, “Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts?A 5For which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — then he told the paralytic, “Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.” 7So he got up and went home. 8When the crowds saw this, they were awestrucka B and gave glorya to God, who had given such authority to men.

The Call of Matthew

9As Jesus went on from there,a he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him.b

10While he was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples.a 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? ”a

12Now when he heard this, he said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick.a 13Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.a b For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”A

A Question about Fasting

14Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast? ”a

15Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guestsA be sad while the groom is with them? The timeB will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16No one patches an old garment with unshrunk cloth, because the patch pulls away from the garment and makes the tear worse. 17And no one putsA new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

A Girl Restored and a Woman Healed

18As he was telling them these things,a suddenly one of the leaders came and knelt down before him, saying, “My daughter just died,A but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”b 19So Jesus and his disciples got up and followeda him.

20Just then, a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years approached from behind and touched the end of his robe,a 21for she said to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I’ll be made well.”a a

22Jesus turned and saw her. “Have courage, daughter,” he said. “Your faith has saved you.”a a And the woman was made well from that moment.B

23When Jesus came to the leader’s house, he saw the flute players and a crowd lamenting loudly.a 24“Leave,” he said, “because the girl is not dead but asleep.”a And they laughed at him. 25After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.a 26Then news of this spread throughout that whole area.a

Healing the Blind

27As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David! ”a

28When he entered the house, the blind men approached him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believea that I can do this? ”

They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”

29Then he touched their eyes, saying, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” 30And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus warned them sternly, “Be sure that no one finds out.”a 31But they went out and spread the news about him throughout that whole area.

Driving Out a Demon

32Just as they were going out, a demon-possessed man who was unable to speak was brought to him.a 33When the demon had been driven out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed, saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel! ”

34But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons.”a

The Lord of the Harvest

35Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom,a and healing everyA disease and every sickness.B C 36When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected,a like sheep without a shepherd.b 37Then he said to his disciples,a “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. 38Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”