3
On seeing this, some of the Torah-teachers said among themselves, "This man is blaspheming!"
4
Yeshua, knowing what they were thinking, said, "Why are you entertaining evil thoughts in your hearts?
5
Tell me, which is easier to say -- `Your sins are forgiven' or `Get up and walk'?
6
But look! I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." He then said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, pick up your mattress, and go home!"
7
And the man got up and went home.
8
When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck and said a b'rakhah to God the Giver of such authority to human beings.
9
As Yeshua passed on from there he spotted a tax-collector named Mattityahu sitting in his collection booth. He said to him, "Follow me!" and he got up and followed him.
10
WhileYeshua was in the house eating, many tax-collectors and sinners came and joined him and his talmidim at the meal.
11
When the P'rushim saw this, they said to his talmidim, "Why does your rabbi eat with tax-collectors and sinners?"
12
But Yeshua heard the question and answered, "The ones who need a doctor aren't the healthy but the sick.
13
As for you, go and learn what this means: `I want compassion rather than animal-sacrifices.' For I didn't come to call the `righteous,' but sinners!"