Mark 2

Jesus Heals a Man Who Could Not Walk

1 A few days later, Jesus entered Capernaum again. The people heard that he had come home.2 So many people gathered that there was no room left. There was not even room outside the door. And Jesus preached the word to them.
3 Four of those who came were carrying a man who could not walk.4 But they could not get him close to Jesus because of the crowd. So they made a hole in the roof above Jesus. Then they lowered the man through it on a mat.
5 Jesus saw their faith. So he said to the man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
6 Some teachers of the law were sitting there. They were thinking,7 "Why is this fellow talking like that? He's saying a very evil thing! Only God can forgive sins!"
8 Right away Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things?9 Is it easier to say to this man, 'Your sins are forgiven'? Or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?10 I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins."
Then Jesus spoke to the man who could not walk.11 "I tell you," he said, "get up. Take your mat and go home."
12 The man got up and took his mat. Then he walked away while everyone watched. All the people were amazed. They praised God and said, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Jesus Chooses Levi

13 Once again Jesus went out beside the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd came to him. He began to teach them.14 As he walked along he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus. Levi was sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him. Levi got up and followed him.
15 Later Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house. Many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples. They were part of the large crowd following Jesus.
16 Some teachers of the law who were Pharisees were there. They saw Jesus eating with "sinners" and tax collectors. So they asked his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
17 Jesus heard that. So he said to them, "Those who are healthy don't need a doctor. Sick people do. I have not come to get those who think they are right with God to follow me. I have come to get sinners to follow me."

Jesus Is Asked About Fasting

18 John's disciples and the Pharisees were going without eating. Some people came to Jesus. They said to him, "John's disciples are fasting. The disciples of the Pharisees are also fasting. But your disciples are not. Why aren't they?"
19 Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the groom go without eating while he is with them? They will not fast as long as he is with them.20 But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. On that day they will go without eating.
21 "People don't sew a patch of new cloth on old clothes. If they do, the new piece will pull away from the old. That will make the tear worse.22 People don't pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the wine will burst the skins. Then the wine and the wineskins will both be destroyed. No, everyone pours new wine into new wineskins."

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath Day

23 One Sabbath day Jesus was walking with his disciples through the grainfields. The disciples began to break off some heads of grain.24 The Pharisees said to Jesus, "Look! It is against the Law to do this on the Sabbath. Why are your disciples doing it?"
25 He answered, "Haven't you ever read about what David did? He and his men were hungry. They needed food.26 It was when Abiathar was high priest. David entered the house of God and ate the holy bread. Only priests were allowed to eat it. David also gave some to his men."
27 Then Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath day was made for man. Man was not made for the Sabbath day.28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath day."

Mark 2

1 And when he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was noised that he was in the house.2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, no, not even about the door: and he spake the word unto them.3 And they come, bringing unto him a man sick of the palsy, borne of four.4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay.5 And Jesus seeing their faith saith unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins are forgiven.6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,7 Why doth this man thus speak? he blasphemeth: who can forgive sins but one, even God?8 And straightway Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, saith unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?9 Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy),11 I say unto thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thy house.12 And he arose, and straightway took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the place of toll, and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.15 And it came to pass, that he was sitting at meat in his house, and many publicans and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and publicans, said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?17 And when Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.18 And John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting: and they come and say unto him, Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast in that day.21 No man seweth a piece of undressed cloth on an old garment: else that which should fill it up taketh from it, the new from the old, and a worse rent is made.22 And no man putteth new wine into old wineskins; else the wine will burst the skins, and the wine perisheth, and the skins: but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins.23 And it came to pass, that he was going on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears.24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?25 And he said unto them, Did ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry, he, and they that were with him?26 How he entered into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the showbread, which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests, and gave also to them that were with him?27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:28 so that the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath.