Mark 2:10-20

10 But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," He told the paralytic,

11 "I tell you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home."

12 Immediately he got up, picked up the stretcher, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

The Call of Matthew

13 Then Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to Him, and He taught them.

14 Then, moving on, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, "Follow Me!" So he got up and followed Him.

Dining with Sinners

15 While He was reclining at the table in Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were also guests^[a] with Jesus and His disciples, because there were many who were following Him.

16 When the scribes of the Pharisees^[b] saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples, "Why does He eat^[c] with tax collectors and sinners?"

17 When Jesus heard this, He told them, "Those who are well don't need a doctor, but the sick [do need one]. I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners."

A Question about Fasting

18 Now John's disciples and the Pharisees^[d] were fasting. People came and asked Him, "Why do John's disciples and the Pharisees' disciples fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"

19 Jesus said to them, "The wedding guests ^[e] cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast.

20 But the time ^[f] will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.