Matthew 9:1-17 ▼

1 Being imbark'd, he pass'd over, and came to his own town,

2 where they brought a man on a bed, lying sick of the palsy: and Jesus perceiving their faith, said to the paralytic, take courage, my son, thy sins are forgiven.

3 whereupon certain of the scribes said within themselves, this man blasphemes.

4 and Jesus perceiving their reflections, said, why do you entertain so bad an opinion?

5 for is it not as easy to say, thy sins are forgiven? as to say, arise, and walk?

6 only it was fit you should know that the son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins: arise, then, said he, to the paralytic, take up thy bed, and march home.

7 and he arose, and returned to his family.

8 at this the multitude were amazed, and glorified God, for having communicated such power to men.

9 As Jesus left that place, he saw one Matthew by name, sitting at the customhouse: and said to him, follow me, and he rose and followed him.

10 and while Jesus was at table in Matthew's house, several publicans and loose people happen'd to come in, who sat down with him and his disciples.

11 which the Pharisees observing, why, said they to his disciples, is your master so familiar with publicans and such loose people?

12 Jesus hearing that, said to them, they that are in health don't want a physician, but they that are sick.

13 go then and learn the meaning of that expression, "I will have mercy and not sacrifice:" for I am not come to call saints, but sinners.

14 Then John's disciples came to him and said, why do the Pharisees, as well as we, observe so many fasts, and your disciples keep none?

15 Jesus answer'd them, can the bride-men mourn, while the bridegroom is with them? the day indeed will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then will be the time to fast.

16 new cloth is never patch'd upon an old garment: for the patch will draw the garment, and rend it still worse.

17 neither do men put new wine into old skins: if they should, the bottles will burst, so that the wine will be lost and the skins be spoil'd: but they put new wine into new skins, whereby both are preserved.