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

When he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was heard 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.

Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word to them.

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

Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him.

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.

When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on.

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

Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

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

But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning 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 speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but 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?

Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason these things 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 tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?’

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 that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he said to the paralytic—

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

“I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house.”

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

He arose, and immediately took up the mat, and went out in front of them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

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

He went out again by the seaside. All the multitude came to him, and he taught 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

As he passed by, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he arose and followed 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.

He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed 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?”

The scribes and the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why is it that he eats and drinks 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

When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

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?”

John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and they came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?”

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 said to them, “Can the groomsmen fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they can’t 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 then will they 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 piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, or else the patch shrinks and the new tears away from the old, and a worse hole is made.

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

No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine pours out, and the skins will be destroyed; but they put new wine into 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.

He was going on the Sabbath day through the grain fields, and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of grain.

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?”

The Pharisees said to him, “Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”

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

He said to them, “Did you never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry—he, and those who were with 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 entered into God’s house when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the show bread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave also 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.

He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

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

Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”