Matthew 9:2-13

New International Version

² Some men brought to him a paralyzed man,^(A) lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith,^(B) he said to the man, “Take heart,^(C) son; your sins are forgiven.”^(D)

³ At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”^(E)

⁴ Knowing their thoughts,^(F) Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? ⁵ Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ⁶ But I want you to know that the Son of Man^(G) has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” ⁷ Then the man got up and went home. ⁸ When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God,^(H) who had given such authority to man.

The Calling of Matthew^(I)

⁹ As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,”^(J) he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

¹⁰ While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. ¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”^(K)

¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’^[a](L) For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”^(M)