Matthew 9:1-13

1Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town.

2Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.”

3But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?”

4Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?

5Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?

6So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

7And the man jumped up and went home!

8Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for giving humans such authority.

9As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.

10Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.

11But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

12When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”

13Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”