And after getting into the boat he crossed over the lake and came into his own city.
And look, they brought to him a paralyzed man lying on a bed. And when he saw their trust, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Take courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”
And look, some of the experts in the law said within themselves, “This man speaks defaming words.”
And Jesus, perceiving their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts?
For which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
But so that you know the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then he said to the paralyzed man—“Get up, pick up your bed, and go home.”
And he got up and went home.
But when the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to humans.
Jesus Calls Matthew
And as Jesus went on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.
And it came to pass as he reclined to eat in the house, look, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining and eating with Jesus and his disciples.
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why is your teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?”
But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick do.
But go and learn what this means, I want mercy, and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
A Question About Fasting
Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”
And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests be sad as long as the groom is still with them? But the days will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.
And no one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, because the patch pulls away from the garment and the tear becomes worse.
Neither do people put new wine into old wineskins, otherwise the wineskins burst and the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”
A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
While he was speaking these things to them, look, a leader came and bowed down before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”
And Jesus got up and followed him, and so did his disciples.
And look, a woman who had a discharge of blood for 12 years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment,
for she was saying within herself, “If I can only touch his garment, I will be healed.”
But Jesus, after turning around and seeing her, said, “Daughter, take courage. Your trust has healed you.” And in that moment the woman was healed.
And when Jesus came into the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion,
he said, “Go away, for the girl has not died, but is asleep.” And they began to laugh at him.
But when the crowd had been cleared out of the house, he entered in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.
And the news of this went out into all that land.
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
And as Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying out and saying, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.”
And after he had come into the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”
Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your trust be it done to you.”
And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See here, let no one know about this!”
But they went out and spread abroad his fame throughout that whole area.
Jesus Heals a Man Unable to Speak
And as they went out, Look!, a mute man who was afflicted by a demon was brought to him.
And when the demon was cast out the mute man spoke, and the crowds were amazed, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.”
But the Pharisees said, “By the prince of the demons he casts out demons.”
The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few
And Jesus was going through all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.
But when he saw the crowds, he was moved with compassion for them because they were distressed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples, “Truly, the harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few.
Therefore implore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”