18. And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him.
19. But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.
20. Seeing their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you."
21. The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?"
22. But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?
23. Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins have been forgiven you,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?
24. But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,"-He said to the paralytic-"I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home."
25. Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.
26. They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen remarkable things today."
27. After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, "Follow Me."
28. And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him.
29. And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them.
30. The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?"
31. And Jesus answered and said to them, "It is not those who are well who need 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 often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink."