1
Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town.
2
Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.”
3
But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?”
4
Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?
5
Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?
6
So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
8
Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority.
9
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.
10
Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.
11
But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum? ”