Matthew 9

1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And look, they were bringing him a paralyzed man lying on a bed. And seeing their faith Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Take courage, child; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And look, some of the scribes said among themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” [a] 4 And knowing their thoughts Jesus said, “Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to forgive sins —” then he says to the paralyzed man, “Get up, pick up your bed and go to your house.” [b] 7 And he got up and went away to his house. 8 And when the crowds saw it they were afraid, and they gave glory to God, who had given such authority to people. [c]

9 And as Jesus was passing on from there he saw a man sitting at the tax booth, called Matthew, and he says to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. 10 And as he was reclining at table in the house, look, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with the tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But hearing it he said, “Those who are strong have no need of a doctor, but those who are ill. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call righteous people but sinners.” [d] †

14 Then the disciples of John come to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the sons of the bridal chamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. [f] 16 And no one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for what fills it pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 17 Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the skins burst, and the wine is poured out and the skins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are kept together.”

18 While he was saying these things to them, look, a ruler came and bowed down to him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus got up and followed him, and so did his disciples.

20 And look, a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel of his cloak; 21 for she was saying within herself, “If only I touch his cloak, I will be saved.” [g] 22 But Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take courage, daughter; your faith has saved you.” And the woman was saved from that hour.

23 And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he was saying, “Go away; for the little girl did not die, but is sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put out, he went in and took hold of her hand, and the little girl got up. † 26 And this report went out into all that land.

27 And as Jesus was passing on from there, two blind men followed him, crying out and saying, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 And when he had come into the house the blind men came to him, and Jesus says to them, “Do you trust that I am able to do this?” They say to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be done for you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus spoke sternly to them, saying, “See that no one knows.” 31 But they went out and spread the news of him in all that land.

32 And as they were going out, look, they brought him a man who could not speak, and who was demon-possessed; [h] 33 and when the demon had been thrown out, the man who could not speak spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never has anything like this appeared in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees were saying, “By the ruler of the demons he throws out the demons.”

35 And Jesus went around all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness. 36 And seeing the crowds he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harried and thrown down, like sheep that have no shepherd. [i] 37 Then he says to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few; 38 so beg the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” [j]