MatthewChapter 9

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¹Jesus got into a boat and crossed over the sea. He came to his own town. ²Just then some men brought him a man who could not move. He was lying on a mat. Jesus saw their faith. He said to the man, "Be brave, son. Your sins are forgiven." ³When some of the scribes saw this, they said to themselves, "This man is speaking evil against God!" ⁴But Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said, "Why do you think evil thoughts in your hearts? ⁵Which is easier to say: 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Get up and walk'? ⁶But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." Then he said to the man who could not move, "Get up, pick up your mat, and go home." ⁷And the man got up and went home. ⁸When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe. They praised God, who had given such authority to men. ⁹As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew. He was sitting at the booth where taxes were paid. "Follow me," Jesus told him. And Matthew got up and followed him. ¹⁰Later, Jesus was eating at Matthew's house. Many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Jesus and his disciples. ¹¹The Pharisees saw this. They asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" ¹²Jesus heard this. He said, "Healthy people don't need a doctor. Sick people do. ¹³Go and learn what this means: 'I want mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call those who are righteous. I have come to call sinners." ¹⁴Then John's disciples came to Jesus. They asked, "We and the Pharisees fast often. Why don't your disciples fast?" ¹⁵Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the groom be sad while he is with them? But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast. ¹⁶No one sews a patch of new cloth on an old coat. The new patch will shrink and pull away from the coat. Then the tear will get worse. ¹⁷People don't pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst. The wine will spill out, and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins. Then both are kept safe." ¹⁸While Jesus was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt in front of him. "My daughter has just died," he said. "But come and put your hand on her, and she will live." ¹⁹So Jesus got up and went with him. His disciples went too. ²⁰Just then a woman came up behind Jesus. She had been sick with bleeding for twelve years. She touched the edge of his cloak. ²¹She said to herself, "If I just touch his cloak, I will be healed." ²²Jesus turned and saw her. "Be brave, daughter," he said. "Your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that very moment. ²³Jesus went into the synagogue leader's house. He saw the flute players and the noisy crowd. ²⁴"Go away," he told them. "The girl is not dead. She is sleeping." And they laughed at him. ²⁵After the crowd was sent outside, Jesus went in. He took the girl by the hand, and she got up. ²⁶News about this spread all over that area. ²⁷As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him. They called out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" ²⁸Jesus went into the house, and the blind men came to him. He asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they answered. ²⁹Then he touched their eyes. He said, "It will be done for you just as you believe." ³⁰And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them strongly, "Make sure no one finds out about this!" ³¹But they went out and spread the news about him all over that land. ³²As they were leaving, a man was brought to Jesus. He had a demon and could not talk. ³³Jesus drove out the demon, and the man began to talk. The crowds were amazed. They said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!" ³⁴But the Pharisees said, "He drives out demons by the power of the prince of demons." ³⁵Jesus went through all the towns and villages. He taught in their synagogues. He preached the good news of the kingdom. And he healed every disease and sickness. ³⁶When he saw the crowds, he felt deep pity for them, because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is big, but the workers are few. ³⁸So ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field."