1   So he got into the boat and crossed over, and came to his own town.

2   And now some men brought him a paralysed man lying on a bed. Seeing their faith Jesus said to the man, ‘Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.’ 3   At this some of the lawyers said to themselves, ‘This is blasphemous talk.’ 4   Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, ‘Why do you harbour these evil thoughts? 5   Is it easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and walk”? 6   But to convince you that the Son of Man has the right on earth to forgive sins’—he turned to the paralysed man—‘stand up, take your bed, and go home.’ 7   Thereupon the man got up, and went off home. 8   The people were filled with awe at the sight, and praised God for granting such authority to men.

Teaching and healing

9   As he passed on from there Jesus saw a man named Matthew at his seat in the custom-house, and said to him, ‘Follow me’; and Matthew rose and followed him.

10   When Jesus was at table in the house, many bad characters— tax-gatherers and others—were seated with him and his disciples. 11   The Pharisees noticed this, and said to his disciples, ‘Why is it that your master eats with tax-gatherers and sinners?’ 12   Jesus heard it and said, ‘It is not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick. 13   Go and learn what that text means, “I require mercy, not sacrifice.” I did not come to invite virtuous people, but sinners.’

14   Then John's disciples came to him with the question: ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?’ 15   Jesus replied, ‘Can you expect the bridegroom's friends to go mourning while the bridegroom is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; that will be the time for them to fast.

16   ‘No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on to an old coat; for then the patch tears away from the coat, and leaves a bigger hole. 17   Neither do you put new wine into old wine-skins; if you do, the skins burst, and then the wine runs out and the skins are spoilt. No, you put new wine into fresh skins; then both are preserved.’

18   Even as he spoke, there came a president of the synagogue, who bowed low before him and said, ‘My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.’ 19   Jesus rose and went with him, and so did his disciples.

20   Then a woman who had suffered from haemorrhages for twelve years came up from behind, 21   and touched the edge of his cloak; for she said to herself, ‘If I can only touch his cloak, I shall be cured.’ 22   But Jesus turned and saw her, and said, ‘Take heart, my daughter; your faith has cured you.’ And from that moment she recovered.

23   When Jesus arrived at the president's house and saw the flute-players and the general commotion, he said, ‘Be off! 24   The girl is not dead: she is asleep’; and they only laughed at him. 25   But, when everyone had been turned out, he went into the room and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26   This story became the talk of all the country round.

27   As he passed on Jesus was followed by two blind men, who cried out, ‘Son of David, have pity on us!’ 28   And when he had gone indoors they came to him. Jesus asked, ‘Do you believe that I have

Teaching and healing the power to do what you want?’ 29   ‘Yes, sir’, they said. Then he touched their eyes, and said, ‘As you have believed, so let it be’; and their sight was restored. 30   Jesus said to them sternly, ‘See that no one hears about this.’ 31   But as soon as they had gone out they talked about him all over the country-side.

32   They were on their way out when a man was brought to him, who was dumb and possessed by a devil; 33   the devil was cast out and the patient recovered his speech. Filled with amazement the onlookers said, ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.’ ^note

35   So Jesus went round all the towns and villages teaching in their synagogues, announcing the good news of the Kingdom, and curing every kind of ailment and disease. 36   The sight of the people moved him to pity: they were like sheep without a shepherd, harassed and helpless; 37   and he said to his disciples, ‘The crop is heavy, but labourers are scarce; 38   you must therefore beg the owner to send labourers to harvest his crop.’

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