Matthew 9:1-26

1So he got into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own town.

2Just then some men brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.”

3At this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “He’s blaspheming!”

4Perceiving their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts?

5For which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”  — then he told the paralytic, “Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.”

7So he got up and went home.

8When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck and gave glory to God, who had given such authority to men.

9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him.

10While he was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples.

11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12Now when he heard this, he said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick.

13Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

14Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”

15Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests be sad while the groom is with them? The time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

16No one patches an old garment with unshrunk cloth, because the patch pulls away from the garment and makes the tear worse.

17And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

18As he was telling them these things, suddenly one of the leaders came and knelt down before him, saying, “My daughter just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”

19So Jesus and his disciples got up and followed him.

20Just then, a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years approached from behind and touched the end of his robe,

21for she said to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I’ll be made well.”

22Jesus turned and saw her. “Have courage, daughter,” he said. “Your faith has saved you.” And the woman was made well from that moment.

23When Jesus came to the leader’s house, he saw the flute players and a crowd lamenting loudly.

24“Leave,” he said, “because the girl is not dead but asleep.” And they laughed at him.

25After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.

26Then news of this spread throughout that whole area.