A paralytic is healed1So Jesus again boarded a boat and crossed back over the lake to His own town.2There some men brought to Him a paralysed man lying on a mattress. Jesus discerned the faith that had motivated them and said to the paralysed man: "Be encouraged, son; all your sins are forgiven."3"That is blasphemy!" some of the teachers of the law said among themselves.4But Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked: "Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?5Is it easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk?'6But to prove that the Son of Man has authority on this earth to forgive sins," Jesus turned to the paralytic and said: "Stand up, take your mattress and go home!"7The man stood up and walked home.8The crowd was filled with awe when they saw this and praised God for giving such authority to men.Jesus calls Matthew9As Jesus continued on His way, He saw a man called Matthew sitting where he collected the taxes. "Follow Me," Jesus said to him, and Matthew obeyed and followed Him.10Jesus then went to Matthew's house for dinner. Many other tax gatherers and those regarded as sinners came to eat with Jesus and His disciples.11This scandalised the Pharisees, who asked His disciples: "Why does your Teacher eat with such people as these tax collectors and sinners?"12Jesus overheard this and said to them: "Healthy people don't need a doctor, but those who are sick.13Go and learn what this scripture means when God says, 'I delight in mercy, not sacrifice!' You see, I have not come to save people who think they are righteous, but those who acknowledge they are sinners!"Jesus questioned about fasting14Some of John's disciples came to Jesus and asked Him: "Why is it that we fast like the Pharisees do, but Your disciples don't fast?"15Jesus replied: "How can you expect the bridegroom's guests to mourn while he is with them? When the bridegroom is taken away from them, that will be the time for them to fast.16"No one would think of sewing a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. When the garment was washed, the patch would shrink and only make the tear worse.17"Nor would men pour new wine into old, hardened wineskins. If they were to do this, the skins would burst and both the wine and the wineskins would be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new flexible wineskins and then both are preserved."A woman healed and a girl raised to life18While He was speaking, a ruler of the synagogue came and knelt before Jesus. "My daughter has just died," he said, "but if You come and place Your hand on her, she will live again."19So Jesus stood and went with him, accompanied by His disciples.20-21On the way a woman came up behind Jesus and touched the border of His robe. She had suffered from constant bleeding for twelve years and had said to herself: "If I only touch His robe, I shall be healed."22Jesus looked round and said to her: "Be encouraged, daughter, your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed instantly.23When Jesus arrived at the ruler's house, the flute players and a noisy crowd of mourners had already gathered.24"Out of the house," He commanded them, "the girl is only sleeping; she is not dead." But they laughed at Him.25Once the crowd was outside, Jesus went in to where the girl lay, took hold of her hand and she stood up!26News of such an event spread rapidly through the whole region.Two blind men healed27As Jesus continued on His journey, two blind men followed Him on the road, calling out to Him: "Son of David, be merciful to us."28The blind men entered the house where Jesus was going. So He asked them: "Do you believe I am able to restore your sight?" "Yes, Lord," they replied.29Then Jesus reached out His hand, touched their eyes and said: "It will now be done to you exactly as you have believed."30And their sight was restored immediately. Then Jesus spoke strictly to them: "Be sure that no-one knows about this."31But instead they left the house and told people all over that region about Jesus and the wonderful thing He had done for them.32While they were leaving the house, a demon-possessed man who was dumb was brought to Jesus.33As soon as He had cast out the demon the man began to speak. This amazed the crowd. "Nothing like this has ever been seen anywhere in Israel," they said.34However, the Pharisees said: "He drives out demons through the power of the prince of demons."Jesus has compassion on the people35Jesus travelled through every town and village teaching in the synagogues, preaching the good news of the Kingdom of heaven and healing people from every disease and sickness.36Whenever He saw the crowds that gathered He had compassion on them. They seemed to be helpless to deal with the things that afflicted them. They were like sheep who had no one to shepherd them and care for them.37He said to His disciples: "There is a plentiful harvest waiting to be reaped, but so few workers.38So pray to the Lord of the harvest and ask Him to send more workers into His harvest field."
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)