1 So he got into the boat and crossed the sea, and returned to his own city.
2 Some people came bringing to him on a bed a man who was paralyzed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, "Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven."
4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said, "Why do you have such wicked thoughts in your hearts?
5 For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?
6 But I would have you know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home!"
7 And he got up and went home.
8 And when the crowd saw it, they were filled with awe, and praised God for giving such power to men.
9 Afterward, as Jesus was passing along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tollhouse, and he said to him, "Follow me!" And he got up and followed him.
10 While Jesus was at home at table, a number of tax-collectors and irreligious people came in and joined Jesus and his disciples at table.
11 And the Pharisees observed it, and they said to his disciples, "Why does your master eat with tax-collectors and irreligious people?"
12 But he heard it, and said, "It is not well people but the sick who have to have the doctor!
13 You must go and learn what the saying means, 'It is mercy, not sacrifice, that I care for.' I did not come to invite the pious but the irreligious."
14 Then the disciples of John came up to him and said, "Why is it that we and the Pharisees are keeping the fast, while your disciples are not keeping it?"
15 Jesus said to them, "Can wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But a time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and they will fast then.
16 But no one sews a patch of unshrunken cloth on an old coat, for the patch will tear away from the coat, and make the hole worse than ever.
17 And people do not put new wine into old wine-skins, or if they do, the skins burst, and the wine runs out and the skins are spoiled. But people put new wine into fresh wine-skins, and so both are saved."
18 Just as he said this to them, an official came up and bowing low before him said to him, "My daughter has just died. But come! Lay your hand on her and she will come to life!"
19 And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples.
20 And a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel of his cloak.
21 For she said to herself, "If I can just touch his cloak, I will get well."
22 And Jesus turned and saw her, and he said, "Courage, my daughter! Your faith has cured you!" And from that time the woman was well.
23 When Jesus reached the official's house, and saw the flute-players and the disturbance the crowd was making,
24 he said, "You must go away, for the girl is not dead; she is asleep." And they laughed at him.
25 But when he had driven the people out, he went in and grasped her hand, and the girl got up.
26 And the news of this spread all over that part of the country.
27 As Jesus was passing along from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Take pity on us, you Son of David!"
28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came up to him, and he said to them, "Do you believe that I can do this?" They said to him, "Yes, sir."
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "You shall have what your faith expects."
30 And their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly not to let anyone hear of it.
31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that part of the country.
32 But just as they were going out, some people brought to him a dumb man who was possessed by a demon,
33 and as soon as the demon was driven out, the dumb man was able to speak. And the crowds were amazed, and said, "Nothing like this was ever seen in Israel!"
34 But the Pharisees said, "It is by the aid of the prince of the demons that he drives them out."
35 Jesus went round among all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing any disease or illness.
36 But the sight of the crowds of people filled him with pity for them, because they were bewildered and dejected, like sheep that have no shepherd.
37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant enough, but the reapers are few.
38 So pray to the owner of the harvest to send reapers to gather it."