1Getting into a boat, Jesus crossedover the sea and came to 1His owncity.
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2And they brought to Him a 3paralyticlying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesussaid to the paralytic, "4Takecourage, son; 5your sins are forgiven."
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And some of the scribessaid to themselves, "This fellow 6blasphemes."
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And Jesus7knowing their thoughtssaid, "Why are you thinkingevil in your hearts?
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"Which is easier, to say, '8Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, and walk '?
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"But so that you may know that 9the Son of Manhasauthority on earth to forgivesins "-then He said to the 10paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and gohome."
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But when the crowdssaw this, they were awestruck, and 11glorifiedGod, who had givensuchauthority to men.
Matthew Called
912As Jesuswent on from there, He saw a mancalled13Matthew, sitting in the taxcollector'sbooth; and He said to him, "14Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him.
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Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, manytaxcollectors and sinnerscame and were dining with Jesus and His disciples.
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When the Phariseessaw this, they said to His disciples, "15Why* is your Teachereating with the taxcollectors and sinners?"
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But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not 16those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.
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"But go and learn17what this means: '18I DESIRECOMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for 19I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
The Question about Fasting
14Then the disciples of Johncame to Him, asking, "Why* do we and 20the Phariseesfast, but Your disciples do not fast?"
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And Jesussaid to them, "The attendants of the bridegroomcannot*mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will comewhen the bridegroom is takenaway from them, and then they will fast.
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"But nooneputs a patch of unshrunkcloth on an oldgarment; for the patchpullsaway from the garment, and a worsetearresults.
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"Nor do people putnewwine into oldwineskins; otherwise the wineskinsburst, and the winepours out and the wineskins are ruined; but they putnewwine into freshwineskins, and both are preserved."
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Matthew 5:16; Matthew 15:31; Mark 2:12; Luke 2:20; Luke 5:25, 26; Luke 7:16; Luke 13:13; Luke 17:15; Luke 23:47; John 15:8; Acts 4:21; Acts 11:18; Acts 21:20; 2 Corinthians 9:13; Galatians 1:24