23. Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
24. But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
25. And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.
26. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
27. After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.”
28. And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.
29. And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.
30. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
31. And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
32. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
33. And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.”
34. And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
35. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”