Matthew 9

1 And he entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city.2 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 are forgiven.3 And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?5 For which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk?6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (then saith he to the sick of the palsy), Arise, and take up thy bed, and go up unto thy house.7 And he arose, and departed to his house.8 But when the multitudes saw it, they were afraid, and glorified God, who had given such authority unto men.

9 And as Jesus passed by from thence, he saw a man, called Matthew, sitting at the place of toll: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

10 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Teacher with the publicans and sinners?12 But when he heard it, he said, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick.13 But go ye and learn what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

14 Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast.16 And no man putteth a piece of undressed cloth upon an old garment; for that which should fill it up taketh from the garment, and a worse rent is made.17 Neither do men put new wine into old wine-skins: else the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins perish: but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins, and both are preserved.

18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.20 And behold, a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment:21 for she said within herself, If I do but touch his garment, I shall be made whole.22 But Jesus turning and seeing her said, Daughter, be of good cheer; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.23 And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute-players, and the crowd making a tumult,24 he said, Give place: for the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.25 But when the crowd was put forth, he entered in, and took her by the hand; and the damsel arose.26 And the fame hereof went forth into all that land.

27 And as Jesus passed by from thence, two blind men followed him, crying out, and saying, Have mercy on us, thou son of David.28 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 say unto him, Yea, Lord.29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it done unto you.30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus strictly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.31 But they went forth, and spread abroad his fame in all that land.

32 And as they went forth, behold, there was brought to him a dumb man possessed with a demon.33 And when the demon was cast out, the dumb man spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.34 But the Pharisees said, By the prince of the demons casteth he out demons.

35 And Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness.36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd.37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few.38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest.

Matthew 9

Jesus heals a crippled man

(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 crippled man lying on a mat. When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the crippled 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 crippled man that 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, “Come with me.” Matthew got up and went with him.
10 Later, Jesus and his disciples were having dinner at Matthew's house.t Many tax collectors and other sinners were also there.t

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 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.”t

People ask about going without eating

(Mark 2.18-22; Luke 5.33-39)

14 One day 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 don't go without eating 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 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 get well.”

22 Jesus turned. He saw the woman and said, “Don't worry! You are now well 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 walking along, 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 that they began saying, “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!”

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

Jesus has pity on people