1. He entered a boat, crossed over, and came into His own city.
2. They brought to Him a man sick with paralysis, lying on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven you.”
3. Then certain scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes.”
4. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5. For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?
6. But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, pick up your bed, and go into your house.”
7. And he rose and departed to his house.
8. But when the crowds saw it, they were amazed and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
9. As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s station. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he rose and followed Him.
10. While Jesus sat at supper in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.
11. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12. But when Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick.