6
Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,
7
"Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
8
At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, "Why do you raise such questions in your hearts?
9
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, "Stand up and take your mat and walk'?
10
But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—he said to the paralytic—
11
"I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home."
12
And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
13
Jesus went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them.
14
As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.
15
And as he sat at dinner in Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him.
16
When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"