Matthew 9:1-13 ▼

1 Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over [the sea] and came to His own city.

2 And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, |Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.|

3 And some of the scribes said to themselves, |This [fellow] blasphemes.|

4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, |Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?

5 |Which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get 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, |Get up, pick up your bed and go home.|

7 And he got up and went home.

8 But when the crowds saw [this], they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector's booth; and He said to him, |Follow Me!| And he got up and followed Him.

10 Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining [at the table] in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples.

11 When the Pharisees saw [this], they said to His disciples, |Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?|

12 But when Jesus heard [this], He said, |[It is] not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.

13 |But go and learn what this means: I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.|