1Jesus got into a boat, crossed the sea, and came to his own city.

2Some people brought him a paralyzed man on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, "Cheer up, friend! Your sins are forgiven." 3Then some of the scribes thought, "He's dishonoring God." 4Jesus knew what they were thinking. He asked them, "Why are you thinking evil things? 5Is it easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 6I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." Then he said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home." 7So the man got up and went home. 8When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe and praised God for giving such authority to humans.

9When Jesus was leaving that place, he saw a man sitting in a tax office. The man's name was Matthew. Jesus said to him, "Follow me!" So Matthew got up and followed him.

10Later Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house. Many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples. 11The Pharisees saw this and asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12When Jesus heard that, he said, "Healthy people don't need a doctor; those who are sick do. 13Learn what this means: 'I want mercy, not sacrifices.' I've come to call sinners, not people who think they have God's approval."

14Then John's disciples came to Jesus. They said, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often but your disciples never do?" 15Jesus replied, "Can wedding guests be sad while the groom is still with them? The time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast.

16"No one patches an old coat with a new piece of cloth that will shrink. When the patch shrinks, it will rip away from the coat, and the tear will become worse. 17Nor do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, people pour new wine into fresh skins, and both are saved."

18A [synagogue] leader came to Jesus while he was talking to John's disciples. He bowed down in front of Jesus and said, "My daughter just died. Come, lay your hand on her, and she will live." 19Jesus and his disciples got up and followed the man.

20Then a woman came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his clothes. She had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years. 21She thought, "If I only touch his clothes, I'll get well." 22When Jesus turned and saw her he said, "Cheer up, daughter! Your faith has made you well." At that very moment the woman became well.

23Jesus came to the [synagogue] leader's house. He saw flute players and a noisy crowd. 24He said to them, "Leave! The girl is not dead. She's sleeping." But they laughed at him. 25When the crowd had been put outside, Jesus went in, took her hand, and the girl came back to life. 26The news about this spread throughout that region.

27When Jesus left that place, two blind men followed him. They shouted, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." 28Jesus went into a house, and the blind men followed him. He said to them, "Do you believe that I can do this?" "Yes, Lord," they answered. 29He touched their eyes and said, "What you have believed will be done for you!" 30Then they could see. He warned them, "Don't let anyone know about this!" 31But they went out and spread the news about him throughout that region.

32As they were leaving, some people brought a man to Jesus. The man was unable to talk because he was possessed by a demon. 33But as soon as the demon was forced out, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed and said, "We have never seen anything like this in Israel!" 34But the Pharisees said, "He forces demons out of people with the help of the ruler of demons."

35Jesus went to all the towns and villages. He taught in the synagogues and spread the Good News of the kingdom. He also cured every disease and sickness.

36When he saw the crowds, he felt sorry for them. They were troubled and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is large, but the workers are few. 38So ask the Lord who gives this harvest to send workers to harvest his crops."