Matthew 9:1-13 ▼

1 After getting into a boat he crossed to the other side and came to his own town.

2 Just then some people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, |Have courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.|

3 Then some of the experts in the law said to themselves, |This man is blaspheming!|

4 When Jesus saw their reaction he said, |Why do you respond with evil in your hearts?

5 Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven' or to say, 'Stand up and walk'?

6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins|--then he said to the paralytic--|Stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.|

7 And he stood up and went home.

8 When the crowd saw this, they were afraid and honored God who had given such authority to men.

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

10 As Jesus was having a meal in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Jesus and his disciples.

11 When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, |Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?|

12 When Jesus heard this he said, |Those who are healthy don't need a physician, but those who are sick do.

13 Go and learn what this saying means: 'I want mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.|