6. Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,
7. "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
8. Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things?
9. Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?
10. But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the man,
11. "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."
12. He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
13. Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them.
14. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.