8
And immediately Jesus,
1perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them,
"Why do you question these things in your hearts?
9
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'?
10
But that you may know that 2the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he said to the paralytic--
11
"I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home."
12
And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and
3glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"
Jesus Calls Levi
13 He went out again beside the sea, and
4all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them.
14
5And as he passed by, he saw
6Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him,
"Follow me." And he rose and followed him.
15
And as he reclined at table in his house, many
7tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.
16
And
8the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples,
9"Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
17
And when Jesus heard it, he said to them,
"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 10I came not to call the righteous, 11but sinners."
A Question About Fasting
18 Now
12John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him,
13"Why do John's disciples and
14the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"