1 S o He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.

Jesus got into a boat. He crossed over to the other side and came into His own city.

2 T hen behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

They took a man to Him who was on his bed. This man was not able to move his body. Jesus saw their faith. He said, “Son, take hope. Your sins are forgiven.”

3 A nd at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”

Some of the teachers of the Law said to themselves, “This man speaks as if He is God, but He is not!”

4 B ut Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?

Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said, “Why do you think bad thoughts in your hearts?

5 F or which is easier, to say, ‘ Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?

Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’

6 B ut that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” —then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

But this is to show you that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins.” He said to the sick man, “Get up! Take your bed and go home.”

7 A nd he arose and departed to his house.

He got up and went to his home.

8 N ow when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men. Matthew the Tax Collector

All the people saw this. They were surprised and wondered about it. Then they gave thanks to God because He had given such power to men. Jesus Calls Matthew

9 A s Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

As Jesus went from there, He saw a man called Matthew. Matthew was sitting at his work gathering taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” Matthew got up and followed Jesus.

10 N ow it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.

Jesus ate in Matthew’s house. Many men who gathered taxes and many who were sinners came to Matthew’s house and sat down with Jesus and His followers.

11 A nd when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

The proud religious law-keepers saw this. They said to the followers of Jesus, “Why does your Teacher eat with men who gather taxes and with sinners?”

12 W hen Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Jesus heard them and said, “People who are well do not need a doctor.

13 B ut go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting

But go and understand these words, ‘I want loving-kindness and not a gift to be given.’ For I have not come to call good people. I have come to call those who are sinners.” Jesus Teaches about Going without Food So You Can Pray Better

14 T hen the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

Then the followers of John the Baptist came to Jesus. They asked, “Why do we and the proud religious law-keepers many times go without food so we can pray better? But Your followers never go without food so they can pray better.”

15 A nd Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Jesus said, “Can the friends at a wedding be sorry when the man just married is with them? But the days will come when the man just married will be taken from them. Then they will not eat food so they can pray better.

16 N o one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.

“No one sews a piece of new cloth on an old coat, because if the new piece pulls away, it makes the hole bigger.

17 N or do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

Men do not put new wine into old skin bags. If they did, the skins would break and the wine would run out. The bags would be no good. They put new wine into new skin bags and both can be used.” Two Healed Through Faith

18 W hile He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.”

While Jesus talked to them, a leader of the people came and got down before Him, and worshiped Him. He said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay Your hand on her and she will live.”

19 S o Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.

Jesus got up and followed him. His followers went also.

20 A nd suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.

Just then a woman who had been sick with a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind. She touched the bottom of His coat.

21 F or she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”

She said to herself, “If I only touch the bottom of His coat, I will be healed.”

22 B ut Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.

Then Jesus turned around. He saw her and said, “Daughter, take hope! Your faith has healed you.” At once the woman was healed.

23 W hen Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing,

Jesus came into the leader’s house. He saw the people playing music and making much noise.

24 H e said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him.

He said to them, “Go now! For the girl is not dead, but is sleeping.” But they laughed at Him.

25 B ut when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.

He sent the people outside. Then He went in and took the girl’s hand. She was raised up.

26 A nd the report of this went out into all that land. Two Blind Men Healed

News of this went out into all the country. The Healing of Two Blind Men

27 W hen Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”

Jesus went on from there. Two blind men followed Him. They called out, “Take pity on us, Son of David.”

28 A nd when 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.”

Jesus went into the house. The blind men came to Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do you have faith that I can do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Sir!”

29 T hen He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”

Then Jesus put His hands on their eyes and said, “You will have what you want because you have faith.”

30 A nd their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.”

Their eyes were opened. Jesus told them to tell no one.

31 B ut when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country. A Mute Man Speaks

But when they had gone, they told about Him everywhere in the country.

32 A s they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed.

As they went on their way, a man who had a demon and could not talk was brought to Jesus.

33 A nd when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!”

When the demon was put out of him, the man was able to talk. Many people were surprised and wondered about it. They said, “We have never seen in the nation of the Jews like this.”

34 B ut the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.” The Compassion of Jesus

But the proud religious law-keepers said, “He puts out demons by the help of the leader of the demons.”

35 T hen Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Jesus went on to all the towns and cities. He taught in their places of worship. He preached the Good News of the holy nation of God. He healed every sickness and disease the people had.

36 B ut when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

As He saw many people, He had loving-pity on them. They were troubled and were walking around everywhere. They were like sheep without a shepherd.

37 T hen He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

Then He said to His followers, “There is much grain ready to gather. But the workmen are few.

38 T herefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

Pray then to the Lord Who is the Owner of the grain fields that He will send workmen to gather His grain.”