3
And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves,
1"This man is blaspheming."
4
But Jesus,
2knowing their thoughts, said,
"Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5
For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?
6
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he then said to the paralytic--
"Rise, pick up your bed and go home."
7
And he rose and went home.
8
When the crowds saw it,
3they were afraid, and
4they glorified God, who had
5given such authority to men.
Jesus Calls Matthew
9 6As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called
7Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him,
"Follow me." And he rose and followed him.
10
And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many
8tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.
11
And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples,
9"Why does your teacher eat with
10tax collectors and sinners?"
12
But when he heard it, he said,
"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
13
Go and learn 11what this means, 12'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For 13I came not to call the righteous, 14but sinners."