17
Oneday He was teaching; and 1there were some Pharisees and 2teachers of the lawsitting there, who had 3come from everyvillage of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and 4the power of the Lord was present for Him to performhealing.
18
5And some men were carrying on a bed a manwho was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him.
19
But not findingany way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on 6the roof and let him down7through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.
20
Seeing their faith, He said, "Friend, 8your sins are forgiven you."
21
The scribes and the Pharisees9began to reason, saying, "10Who is this man whospeaksblasphemies? 11Whocanforgivesins, but Godalone?"
22
But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?
23
"Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins have been forgiven you,' or to say, 'Get up and walk '?
24
"But, so that you may know that the Son of Manhasauthority on earth to forgivesins,"-He said to the 12paralytic - "I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and gohome."
25
Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and wenthome13glorifyingGod.
26
They were allstruck with astonishment and began 14glorifyingGod; and they were filled15with fear, saying, "We have seenremarkablethingstoday."
Call of Levi (Matthew)
2716After that He went out and noticed a taxcollectornamed17Levisitting in the taxbooth, and He said to him, "Follow Me."
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And he 18lefteverythingbehind, and got up and began to follow Him.
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And 19Levigave a bigreception for Him in his house; and there was a greatcrowd of 20taxcollectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them.
30
21The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, "Why* do you eat and drink with the taxcollectors and sinners?"
31
And Jesusanswered and said to them, "22It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick.
32
"I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."
33
And they said to Him, "23The disciples of Johnoftenfast and offerprayers, the disciples of the Phariseesalso do the same, but Yourseat and drink."
34
And Jesussaid to them, "You cannot*make the attendants of the bridegroomfastwhile* the bridegroom is with them, can you?
35
"24But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is takenaway from them, then they will fast in thosedays."
36
And He was alsotelling them a parable: "Noonetears a piece of cloth from a newgarment and puts it on an oldgarment; otherwise he will bothtear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.
37
"And nooneputsnewwine into oldwineskins; otherwise the newwine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined.