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1So Jesus took a boat back across the lake to the town where he lived. 2There they brought to him a paralyzed man lying on a mat. When Jesus saw how they trusted him, he told the paralyzed man, “My friend,9:2. Literally, “child.” cheer up! Your sins are forgiven.”
3In response some of the religious teachers said to themselves, “He’s speaking blasphemy!”
4But Jesus knew what they were thinking. He asked them, “Why are you thinking evil thoughts in your minds? 5What is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Get up and walk’? 6But to convince you that the Son of man does have the authority to forgive sins…” he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 7The man got up and went home. 8When the crowds saw what had happened, they were scared. Then they praised God that he had given human beings such power.
9As Jesus moved on from there he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth. Jesus called to him, “Follow me!” He got up, and followed Jesus. 10While Jesus was eating at Matthew’s home, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down at the table with Jesus and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this they asked Jesus’ disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12When Jesus heard the question, he replied, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. 13Go and discover what this means: ‘I want mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I didn’t come to call those who do what’s right—I came to call sinners.”9:13. Quoting Hosea 6:6.
14Then the disciples of John came and asked, “Why is that we and the Pharisees fast frequently, but your disciples don’t?”
15“Do wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is with them?” Jesus responded. “But the time is coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast. 16No one puts a new patch on old clothes, otherwise it will shrink and make the tear worse. 17No one puts new wine in old wineskins either, otherwise the wineskins will burst, spilling the wine and ruining the wineskins. No, new wine is put into new wineskins, and both last.”
18While he was telling them this, one of the leading officials came and bowed before him. “My daughter has just died,” the man told Jesus. “But if you come and place your hand on her, I know she will come back to life.”
19Jesus and his disciples got up and followed him. 20At that moment a woman who had been sick with bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the hem of his cloak. 21She had told herself, “If I can just touch his cloak, I’ll be healed.”
22Jesus turned and saw her. “Be happy, for your trust in me has healed you,” he told her.9:22. Jesus calls her “daughter,” but such a form of address is not usual in modern English. The woman was immediately healed.
23Jesus arrived at the official’s house. He saw the flute-players and the crowd that was weeping loudly. 24“Please leave,” he told them, “For the girl isn’t dead, she’s just asleep.” But they laughed and made fun of him. 25But once the crowd had been sent out, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26News of what happened spread throughout that region.
27As Jesus continued on from there, two blind men followed him, shouting, “Son of David, please have mercy on us!” 28When Jesus arrived at the house where he was staying, the blind men came in too.
“Are you convinced that I’m able to do this?” he asked them.
“Yes, Lord,” they replied.
29Then Jesus touched their eyes, and said, “Because of your trust in me it will happen!” 30And they could see. Then Jesus warned them, “Make sure nobody knows about this.” 31But they went and spread the word about Jesus everywhere.
32As Jesus and his disciples were leaving, a man was brought to him who was dumb and demon-possessed. 33Once the demon had been thrown out of him, the dumb man spoke, and the crowds were amazed. “Nothing ever happened like this before in Israel,” they said. 34But the Pharisees remarked, “He throws out demons using the power of the chief of demons.”
35Jesus went all over, visiting the towns and villages. He taught in their synagogues, telling them about the good news of the kingdom, and he healed all kinds of sicknesses and diseases. 36When he saw the crowds, Jesus was deeply moved with compassion for them, because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37He told his disciples, “The harvest is large, but there are only a few workers. 38Pray to the Lord of the harvest, and ask him to send more workers for his harvest.”