< Matthew 9 >
1 And he entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city.
2 And look, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Son, cheer up. Your sins are forgiven."
3 And look, some of the scribes said to 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;' or to say, 'Get up, and walk?'
6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." (then he said to the paralytic), "Get up, and take up your mat, and go up to your house."
7 And he arose and departed to his house.
8 Now when the crowds saw it, they were afraid and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
9 And as Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.
10 And it happened as he sat in the house, look, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus 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 he heard it, he said to them, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.
13 But you go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
14 Then John's disciples 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 And no one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made.
17 Neither do people put new wine into old wineskins, or else the skins would burst, and the wine pours out, and the skins ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved."
18 While he told these things to them, look, 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 And Jesus got up and followed him, as did his disciples.
20 And look, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment;
21 for she said within herself, "If I just touch his garment, I will be made well."
22 But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, "Daughter, cheer up. Your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.
23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the flute players, and the crowd in noisy disorder,
24 he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead, but asleep." And they laughed at him.
25 But when the crowd was put out, he entered in, took her by the hand, and the girl arose.
26 And the report of this went out into all that land.
27 And as Jesus passed by from there, two blind men followed him, calling out and saying, "Have mercy on us, son of David."
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 told him, "Yes, Lord."
29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you."
30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus strictly commanded them, saying, "See that no one knows about this."
31 But they went out and spread abroad his fame in all that land.
32 And as they went out, look, a mute man who was demon possessed was brought to him.
33 And when the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds were amazed, saying, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."
34 But the Pharisees said, "By the prince of the demons, he casts out demons."
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Good News of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness.
36 But when he saw the crowds, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.
37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
38 Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest."
