6
But some of the scribes were sittingthere and reasoning in their hearts,
7
"Why does thismanspeak that way? He is blaspheming; 1whocanforgivesins but Godalone?"
8
ImmediatelyJesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that waywithinthemselves, said to them, "Why are you reasoning about thesethings in your hearts?
9
"Which is easier, to say to the 2paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven '; or to say, 'Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk '?
10
"But so that you may know that the Son of Manhasauthority on earth to forgivesins "-He said to the paralytic,
11
"I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and gohome."
12
And he got up and immediatelypicked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were allamazed and 3were glorifyingGod, saying, "4We have neverseen anything likethis."
13
And He went out again by the seashore; and 5all the people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them.
Levi (Matthew) Called
146As He passed by, He saw7Levi the son of Alphaeussitting in the taxbooth, and He said to him, "8Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him.
15
And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and manytaxcollectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him.
16
When 9the scribes of the Phariseessaw that He was eating with the sinners and taxcollectors, they said to His disciples, "10Why is He eating and drinking with taxcollectors and sinners?"