Read the Bible

The Son of Man Forgives and Heals

¹ So he got into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own town.^{(C1) 2} Just then^(C1) some men^(F1) brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.”

³ At this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “He’s blaspheming!” ^(C1)

⁴ Perceiving their thoughts,^(C1) Jesus said, “Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts?⁵ For which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?⁶ But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”⁷ So he got up and went home. ⁸ When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck^(F1)(F2) and gave glory^(C1) to God, who had given such authority to men.

The Call of Matthew

⁹ As Jesus went on from there,^(C1) he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the toll booth, and he said to him, “Follow me,”

¹⁰ While he was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples.^{(C1) 11} When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ^(C1)

¹² Now when he heard this, he said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick.¹³ Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.

A Question about Fasting

¹⁴ Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” ^(C1)

¹⁵ Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests¹⁶ No one patches an old garment with unshrunk cloth, because the patch pulls away from the garment and makes the tear worse.¹⁷ And no one puts

A Girl Restored and a Woman Healed

¹⁸ As he was telling them these things,^(C1) suddenly one of the leaders came and knelt down before him, saying, “My daughter just died,^(F1) but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”^{(C2) 19} So Jesus and his disciples got up and followed^(C1) him.

²⁰ Just then, a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years approached from behind and touched the end of his robe,^{(C1) 21} for she said to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I’ll be made well.”^(F1)(C1)

²² Jesus turned and saw her. “Have courage, daughter,”

²³ When Jesus came to the leader’s house, he saw the flute players and a crowd lamenting loudly.^{(C1) 24} “Leave,”²⁵ After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.^{(C1) 26} Then news of this spread throughout that whole area.^(C1)

Healing the Blind

²⁷ As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” ^(C1)

²⁸ When he entered the house, the blind men approached him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe

They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”

²⁹ Then he touched their eyes, saying, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.”³⁰ And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus warned them sternly, “Be sure that no one finds out.”³¹ But they went out and spread the news about him throughout that whole area.

Driving Out a Demon

³² Just as they were going out, a demon-possessed man who was unable to speak was brought to him.^{(C1) 33} When the demon had been driven out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed, saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”

³⁴ But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons.”^(C1)

The Lord of the Harvest

³⁵ Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom,^(C1) and healing every^(F1) disease and every sickness.^{(F2)(F3) 36} When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected,^(C1) like sheep without a shepherd.^{(C2) 37} Then he said to his disciples,^(C1) “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few.³⁸ Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”