3. Then some teachers of the Law said to themselves, “This man is speaking blasphemy!”
4. Jesus perceived what they were thinking, so he said, “Why are you thinking such evil things?
5. Is it easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
6. I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralysed man, “Get up, pick up your bed, and go home!”
7. The man got up and went home.
8. When the people saw it, they were afraid, and praised God for giving such authority to people.
9. Jesus left that place, and as he walked along, he saw a tax collector, named Matthew, sitting in his office. He said to him, “Follow me.”Matthew got up and followed him.
10. While Jesus was having a meal in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and other outcasts came and joined Jesus and his disciples at the table.
11. Some Pharisees saw this and asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such people?”