The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 Back in the boat, Jesus and the disciples recrossed the sea to Jesus' hometown.
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And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2 They were hardly out of the boat when some men carried a paraplegic on a stretcher and set him down in front of them. Jesus, impressed by their bold belief, said to the paraplegic, "Cheer up, son. I forgive your sins."
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And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy;Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 Some religion scholars whispered, "Why, that's blasphemy!"
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And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, "Why this gossipy whispering?
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And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5 Which do you think is simpler: to say, 'I forgive your sins,' or, 'Get up and walk'?
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For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6 Well, just so it's clear that I'm the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both. . . ." At this he turned to the paraplegic and said, "Get up. Take your bed and go home."
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But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,)Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7 And the man did it.
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And he arose, and departed to his house.
8 The crowd was awestruck, amazed and pleased that God had authorized Jesus to work among them this way.
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But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
9 Passing along, Jesus saw a man at his work collecting taxes. His name was Matthew. Jesus said, "Come along with me." Matthew stood up and followed him.
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And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him,Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
10 Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew's house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them.
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And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11 When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus' followers. "What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riff-raff?"
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And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 Jesus, overhearing, shot back, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick?
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But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them,They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 Go figure out what this Scripture means: 'I'm after mercy, not religion.' I'm here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders."
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But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
14 A little later John's followers approached, asking, "Why is it that we and the Pharisees rigorously discipline body and spirit by fasting, but your followers don't?"
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Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
15 Jesus told them, "When you're celebrating a wedding, you don't skimp on the cake and wine. You feast. Later you may need to pull in your belt, but not now. No one throws cold water on a friendly bonfire. This is Kingdom Come!"
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And Jesus said unto them,Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
16 He went on, "No one cuts up a fine silk scarf to patch old work clothes; you want fabrics that match.
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No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
17 And you don't put your wine in cracked bottles."
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Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
18 As he finished saying this, a local official appeared, bowed politely, and said, "My daughter has just now died. If you come and touch her, she will live."
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While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
19 Jesus got up and went with him, his disciples following along.
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And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
20 Just then a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years slipped in from behind and lightly touched his robe.
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And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
21 She was thinking to herself, "If I can just put a finger on his robe, I'll get well." Jesus turned - caught her at it. Then he reassured her: "Courage, daughter. You took a risk of faith, and now you're well."
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For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
22 The woman was well from then on.
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But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said,Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
23 By now they had arrived at the house of the town official, and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and the neighbors bringing in casseroles.
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And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
24 Jesus was abrupt: "Clear out! This girl isn't dead. She's sleeping." They told him he didn't know what he was talking about.
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He said unto them,Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
25 But when Jesus had gotten rid of the crowd, he went in, took the girl's hand, and pulled her to her feet - alive.
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But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
26 The news was soon out, and traveled throughout the region.
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And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
27 As Jesus left the house, he was followed by two blind men crying out, "Mercy, Son of David! Mercy on us!"
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And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
28 When Jesus got home, the blind men went in with him. Jesus said to them, "Do you really believe I can do this?" They said, "Why, yes, Master!"
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And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them,Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
29 He touched their eyes and said, "Become what you believe."
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Then touched he their eyes, saying,According to your faith be it unto you.
30 It happened. They saw. Then Jesus became very stern. "Don't let a soul know how this happened."
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And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying,See that no man know it.
31 But they were hardly out the door before they started blabbing it to everyone they met.
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But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
32 Right after that, as the blind men were leaving, a man who had been struck speechless by an evil spirit was brought to Jesus.
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As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
33 As soon as Jesus threw the evil tormenting spirit out, the man talked away just as if he'd been talking all his life. The people were up on their feet applauding: "There's never been anything like this in Israel!"
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And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
34 The Pharisees were left sputtering, "Hocus pocus. It's nothing but hocus pocus. He's probably made a pact with the Devil."
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But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
35 Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives.
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And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
36 When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd.
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But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37 "What a huge harvest!" he said to his disciples. "How few workers!
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Then saith he unto his disciples,The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 On your knees and pray for harvest hands!"
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Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.