Jesus said to them: Have you read the Scriptures, 'The stone the builders rejected has been made the chief cornerstone of the building. This was Jehovah's doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes.' (Isaiah 28:16)

Concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you read that which was spoken to you by God?

It is a fact that the dead will be raised again. Have you not read the account of the burning bush in the book of Moses? Did you notice how God spoke to him, saying: I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?

He said: What is written in the law? How do you read it?

Jesus said: Is it not written in your law, I said, you are 'god-like ones'?

I will

To practice righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.

I desire loving-kindness (mercy), not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

With what shall I come before Jehovah? Shall I bow down before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with year old calves?

To call

(omitted, text not found in early manuscripts)

Jesus heard this. He said to them: Those who are well have no need of a medical man but those who are ill do. I have come to care for sinners not the upright.

I did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

Then Jesus told them an illustration:

The Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.

The Scriptures say: There is no one who is righteous,

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor people who worship idols, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals,

I was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and a violent aggressor. I was shown mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

General references

(omitted, text not found in early manuscripts)

One day a large number of tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus.

The Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.