Jesus Heals a Man Who Cannot Move

Jesus went again to Capernaum after a few days. Some people heard that He was at home. Many people came together and there was not enough room for all of them, not even near the door. And Jesus spoke the message to them. Some people came and brought a sick man who could not move his body. Four men carried him. They could not bring him near Jesus because of the crowd of people. So, they took off part of the roof above Jesus and lowered the sick man down on his sleeping mat, after they made a hole in the roof.

Jesus saw their faith and said to the sick man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

Some teachers of the religious law were sitting there and they thought in their hearts, "Why does this man speak like this? He does not have any respect for God and he says evil things. Who can forgive sins? Only God can."

Jesus knew in His spirit immediately that they thought these things in their hearts.

He said to them, "Why do you think these things in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the man who cannot move his body, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand, take up your sleeping mat and walk?' But this is so you will know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." And Jesus said to the man who could not move his body, "I say to you, stand, take up your sleeping mat, and go to your house."

The man stood and took his sleeping mat and went out immediately, in front of all of them. They were all full of wonder and gave glory to God. They said, "We have never seen anything like this before."

Jesus Invites Levi to Follow Him

Jesus went out again near the sea. A large crowd of people came to Him and He taught them. He saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, as He was walking. He was sitting at the place where people came to pay their taxes.

Jesus said to Levi, "Follow me."

He stood and followed Jesus.

Jesus Eats with Sinners

Jesus was eating a meal at Levi's house. Many men who took taxes and many sinners sat with Jesus and His followers, because a large number of people were following Him there. The teachers of the religious law saw Him eating with sinners and with men who took taxes.

They said to His followers, "Why does He eat and drink with sinners and men who take taxes?"

Jesus heard it and said to them, "Healthy people do not need a doctor. Only sick people need a doctor. I did not come to ask the people who already obey God to follow Me; I came to ask the people who are sinners to follow Me."

People Ask Jesus about Fasting

John's followers and the Pharisees were fasting. The people came and asked Jesus, "Why do John's followers and the Pharisees' followers fast but your followers do not fast?"

Jesus answered them, "Can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot fast while the bridegroom is still with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and they will fast then. No person puts a piece of new cloth on an old piece of clothing, because the new piece of cloth will pull away from the old piece of clothing, and the tear will become worse. No person puts new wine into old wine bags either, because the new wine will break the bags and the wine and the bags will both be destroyed. New wine is put into new wine bags."

The Pharisees Ask Jesus about the Sabbath

Jesus went through the grain fields on a Sabbath Day and His followers began to take some grain as they walked.

The Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do something on the Sabbath that is against the law?"

He said to them, "Haven't you ever read what David did when he and the men with him were hungry and needed food?" David went into God's house when Abiathar was the high priest. Then he ate the bread that was offered to God, and gave it to the men who were with him. That is against the law because only priests are allowed to eat this bread."

Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for people. People were not made for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man has authority over even the Sabbath."

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