Matthew 9
1 Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and went to his own town.
2 Then some people brought him a paralyzed man lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”
3 Some teachers of the Law said among themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”
4 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts?
5 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”—then he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
7 He got up and went home.
8 When the crowds saw this, they were afraid and glorified God, who had given such authority to people.
9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him.
10 While Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 He heard them and said, “Those who are well don't need a doctor, but those who are sick do.
13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I want mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
14 Then John's disciples came to him and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don't fast?”
15 Jesus answered, “Can the wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.
16 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth onto an old garment, because the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear gets worse.
17 Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wineskins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Instead, they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
18 While he was saying these things to them, a leader came and bowed before him, saying, “My daughter has just died. But come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”
19 Jesus got up and followed him, along with his disciples.
20 Then a woman who had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment,
21 for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be healed.”
22 Jesus turned and, seeing her, said, “Take courage, daughter; your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.
23 When Jesus came to the leader's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd,
24 he said, “Go away. The girl isn't dead; she is sleeping.” And they laughed at him.
25 When the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.
26 And news of this spread throughout that whole region.
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, shouting, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
28 When he came to the house, the blind men approached him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe I can do this?” They answered, “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. Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one finds out.”
31 But they went out and spread the news about him throughout that whole region.
32 As they were leaving, some people brought Jesus a mute man who was demon-possessed.
33 When the demon had been driven out, the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
34 But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the ruler of demons.”
35 Jesus went through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness.
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were distressed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
38 So ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest.”
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