Matthew 9

The Paralytic is Forgiven

1 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, This Man blasphemes!4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil in your hearts?5 For which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven you, or to say, Arise and walk?6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sinsthen He said to the paralytic, Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.7 And he arose and departed to his house.8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

Matthew is Called

9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, Follow Me. So he arose and followed Him.

The Disciples Eat with Sinners

10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.13 But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.

The Disciples Do Not Fast

14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?15 And Jesus said to them, Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.

Life is Restored

18 While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.19 So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.21 For she said to herself, If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well. And the woman was made well from that hour.23 When Jesus came into the rulers house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing,24 He said to them, Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping. And they ridiculed Him.25 But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.26 And the report of this went out into all that land.

Sight is Restored

27 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, Son of David, have mercy on us!28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to Him, Yes, Lord.29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith let it be to you.30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, See that no one knows it.31 But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.

Speech is Restored

32 As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed.33 And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, It was never seen like this in Israel!34 But the Pharisees said, He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.

The Need for Delegation of Power

35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.37 Then He said to His disciples, The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

MATTHEW 9

Jesus Heals a Man //Who Could Not Walk

(Mark 2.1-12; Luke 5.17-26)

1 Jesus got into a boat and crossed back over to the town where he lived.t

2 Some people soon brought to him a man lying on a mat because he could not walk. When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the man, “My friend, don't worry! Your sins are forgiven.”

3 Some teachers of the Law of Moses said to themselves, “Jesus must think he is God!”
4 But Jesus knew what was in their minds, and he said, “Why are you thinking such evil things? 5 Is it easier for me to tell this man his sins are forgiven or to tell him to get up and walk? 6 But I will show you that the Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth.” So Jesus said to the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and go on home.” 7 The man got up and went home.

8 When the crowds saw this, they were afraidt and praised God for giving such authority to people.

Jesus Chooses Matthew

(Mark 2.13-17; Luke 5.27-32)

9 As Jesus was leaving, he saw a tax collectort named Matthew sitting at the place for paying taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Matthew got up and went with him.
10  t Later, Jesus and his disciples were having dinner at Matthew's house.t Many tax collectors and other sinners were also there.

11 Some Pharisees asked Jesus' disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and other sinners?”
12 Jesus heard them and answered, “Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do.

13 t Go and learn what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others.’ I didn't come to invite good people to be my followers. I came to invite sinners.”

People Ask about Going //without Eating

(Mark 2.18-22; Luke 5.33-39)

14 Some followers of John the Baptist came and asked Jesus, “Why do we and the Pharisees often go without eating, t while your disciples never do?”

15 Jesus answered:
The friends of a bridegroom aren't sad while he is still with them. But the time will come when he will be taken from them. Then they will go without eating.

16 No one uses a new piece of cloth to patch old clothes. The patch would shrink and tear a bigger hole.

17 No one pours new wine into old wineskins. The wine would swell and burst the old skins.t Then the wine would be lost, and the skins would be ruined. New wine must be put into new wineskins. Both the skins and the wine will then be safe.

A Dying Girl and //a Sick Woman

(Mark 5.21-43; Luke 8.40-56)

18 While Jesus was still speaking, an official came and knelt in front of him. The man said, “My daughter has just now died! Please come and place your hand on her. Then she will live again.”

19 Jesus and his disciples got up and went with the man.
20 A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and barely touched his clothes.

21 She had said to herself, “If I can just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”

22 Jesus turned. He saw the woman and said, “Don't worry! You are now healed because of your faith.” At that moment she was healed.
23 When Jesus went into the home of the official and saw the musicians and the crowd of mourners, t 24 he said, “Get out of here! The little girl isn't dead. She is just asleep.” Everyone started laughing at Jesus.

25 But after the crowd had been sent out of the house, Jesus went to the girl's bedside. He took her by the hand and helped her up.

26 News about this spread all over that part of the country.

Jesus Heals //Two Blind Men

27 As Jesus was leaving that place, two blind men began following him and shouting, “Son of David, t have pity on us!”

28 After Jesus had gone indoors, the two blind men came up to him. He asked them, “Do you believe I can make you well?”
“Yes, Lord,” they answered.
29 Jesus touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, you will be healed.” 30 They were able to see, and Jesus strictly warned them not to tell anyone about him.

31 But they left and talked about him to everyone in that part of the country.

Jesus Heals a Man //Who Could Not Talk

33 After Jesus had forced the demon out, the man started talking. The crowds were so amazed they began saying, “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!”

34  t But the Pharisees said, “The leader of the demons gives him the power to force out demons.”

Jesus Has Pity on People