1 A fter some days Jesus went back to the city of Capernaum. Then news got around that He was home.

And Jesus having returned to Capernaum, after some days it was rumored about that He was in the house.

2 S oon many people gathered there. There was no more room, not even at the door. He spoke the Word of God to them.

And so many people gathered together there that there was no longer room, not even around the door; and He was discussing the Word.

3 F our men came to Jesus carrying a man who could not move his body.

Then they came, bringing a paralytic to Him, who had been picked up and was being carried by four men.

4 T hese men could not get near Jesus because of so many people. They made a hole in the roof of the house over where Jesus stood. Then they let down the bed with the sick man on it.

And when they could not get him to a place in front of Jesus because of the throng, they dug through the roof above Him; and when they had scooped out an opening, they let down the '> thickly padded] quilt or mat upon which the paralyzed man lay.

5 W hen Jesus saw their faith, He said to the sick man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven and put away '> penalty is remitted, the sense of guilt removed, and you are made upright and in right standing with God].

6 S ome teachers of the Law were sitting there. They thought to themselves,

Now some of the scribes were sitting there, holding a dialogue with themselves as they questioned in their hearts,

7 “ Why does this Man talk like this? He is speaking as if He is God! Who can forgive sins? Only One can forgive sins and that is God!”

Why does this Man talk like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins '> remove guilt, remit the penalty, and bestow righteousness instead] except God alone?

8 A t once Jesus knew the teachers of the Law were thinking this. He said to them, “Why do you think this in your hearts?

And at once Jesus, becoming fully aware in His spirit that they thus debated within themselves, said to them, Why do you argue (debate, reason) about all this in your hearts?

9 W hich is easier to say to the sick man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your bed, and start to walk?’

Which is easier: to say to the paralyzed man, Your sins are forgiven and put away, or to say, Rise, take up your sleeping pad or mat, and start walking about '> keep on walking]?

10 I am doing this so you may know the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins.” He said to the sick man who could not move his body,

But that you may know positively and beyond a doubt that the Son of Man has right and authority and power on earth to forgive sins—He said to the paralyzed man,

11 “ I say to you, ‘Get up. Take your bed and go to your home.’”

I say to you, arise, pick up and carry your sleeping pad or mat, and be going on home.

12 A t once the sick man got up and took his bed and went away. Everybody saw him. They were all surprised and wondered about it. They thanked God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” Jesus Calls Matthew

And he arose at once and picked up the sleeping pad or mat and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and recognized and praised and thanked God, saying, We have never seen anything like this before!

13 J esus walked along the sea-shore again. Many people came together and He taught them.

went out again along the seashore; and all the multitude kept gathering about Him, and He kept teaching them.

14 H e walked farther and saw Levi (Matthew) the son of Alphaeus. Levi was sitting at his work gathering taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” Levi got up and followed Him. Jesus Eats with Tax-Gatherers and Sinners

And as He was passing by, He saw Levi (Matthew) son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, Follow Me! '> joined to Me as a disciple, side with My party!] And he arose and joined Him as His disciple and sided with His party and accompanied Him.

15 J esus ate in Levi’s house. Many men who gather taxes and others who were sinners came and sat down with Jesus and His followers. There were many following Him.

And as Jesus, together with His disciples, sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and persons '> definitely stained] with sin were dining with Him, for there were many who walked the same road (followed) with Him.

16 T he teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers saw Jesus eat with men who gather taxes and others who were sinners. They said to His followers, “Why does He eat and drink with men who gather taxes and with sinners?”

And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that He was eating with '> definitely known to be especially wicked] sinners and tax collectors, said to His disciples, Why does He eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?

17 J esus heard it and said to them, “People who are well do not need a doctor. Only those who are sick need a doctor. I have not come to call those who are right with God. I have come to call those who are sinners.” Jesus Teaches about Going without Food So You Can Pray Better

And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, Those who are strong and well have no need of a physician, but those who are weak and sick; I came not to call the righteous ones to repentance, but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin).

18 T he followers of John and the proud religious law-keepers were not eating food so they could pray better. Some people came to Jesus and said, “Why do the followers of John and the proud religious law-keepers go without food so they can pray better, but Your followers do not?”

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were observing a fast; and came and asked Jesus, Why are John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fasting, but Your disciples are not doing so?

19 J esus said to them, “Can the friends at a wedding go without food when the man just married is with them? As long as they have him with them, they will not go without food.

Jesus answered them, Can the wedding guests fast (abstain from food and drink) while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

20 T he days will come when the man just married will be taken from them. Then they will not eat food so they can pray better.

But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and they will fast in that day.

21 N o man sews a piece of new cloth on an old coat. If it comes off, it will make the hole bigger.

No one sews a patch of unshrunken (new) goods on an old garment; if he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and the rent (tear) becomes bigger and worse.

22 N o man puts new wine into old skin bags. The skin would break and the wine would run out. The bags would be no good. New wine must be put into new skin bags.” Jesus Teaches about the Day of Rest

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the bottles destroyed; but new wine is to be put in new (fresh) wineskins.

23 A t that time Jesus walked through the grain-fields on the Day of Rest. As they went, His followers began to take some of the grain.

One Sabbath He was going along beside the fields of standing grain, and as they made their way, His disciples began to pick off the grains.

24 T he proud religious law-keepers said to Jesus, “See! Why are they doing what the Law says should not be done on the Day of Rest?”

And the Pharisees said to Him, Look! Why are they doing what is not permitted or lawful on the Sabbath?

25 H e said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his men were hungry?

And He said to them, Have you never read what David did when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were accompanying him?—

26 H e went into the house of God when Abiathar was head religious leader of the Jews. He ate the special bread used in the religious worship. The Law says only the Jewish religious leaders may eat that. David gave some to those who were with him also.”

How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was the high priest, and ate the sacred loaves set forth, which it is not permitted or lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave to those who were with him?

27 J esus said to them, “The Day of Rest was made for the good of man. Man was not made for the Day of Rest.

And Jesus said to them, The Sabbath was made on account and for the sake of man, not man for the Sabbath;

28 T he Son of Man is Lord of the Day of Rest also.”

So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.