Matthew 9

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

1 [Jesus] got into a boat, crossed over, and came to [His] own town. 2 Just then, [some men] brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This [man] is blaspheming!” 4 But Jesus knew what they were thinking [and] said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts? 5 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 earth to forgive sins...” Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.” 7 And [the man] got up and went home. 8 When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

The Calling of Matthew

9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and [Matthew] got up [and] followed Him. 10 Later, as [Jesus] was dining at [Matthew’s] house, many tax collectors and sinners came [and] ate with [Him] and His disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why {does} your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 [On] hearing this, [Jesus] said, “ [It is] not the healthy [who] need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go [and] learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ ▼

▼Hosea 6:6

For I have not come to call [the] righteous, but sinners.”

Questions about Fasting

14 At that time, John’s disciples came to [Jesus] [and] asked, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples {do} not fast?” 15 Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while [He] is with them? But [the] time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

The Patches and the Wineskins

16 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. For the patch will pull away from the garment, and a worse tear will result. 17 Neither do [men] pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

The Healing Touch of Jesus

18 While [Jesus] was saying these things, a synagogue leader came [and] knelt before Him. “My daughter has just died,” he said. “But come [and] place Your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 So Jesus got up [and] went with him, along with His disciples. 20 Suddenly a woman who had suffered from bleeding [for] twelve years came up behind [Him] [and] touched the fringe of His cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was cured from that very hour. 23 When Jesus entered the ruler’s house, He saw the flute players and the noisy crowd. 24 “Go away,” He told them. “ - The girl is not dead, but asleep.” And they laughed at Him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, [Jesus] went in [and] took [the girl] by the hand, and [she] got up. 26 And the news about this spread throughout that region.

Jesus Heals the Blind and Mute

27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind [men] followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28 After [Jesus] had entered the house, the blind [men] came to Him. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” [He] asked. “Yes, Lord,” they answered. 29 Then He touched their eyes [and] said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one finds out about this!” 31 But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout the land. 32 As they were leaving, a demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to [Jesus] . 33 And when the demon had been driven out, the [man] began to speak. The crowds were amazed [and] said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!” 34 But the Pharisees said, “ [It is] by the prince of demons [that] He drives out demons.”

The Lord of the Harvest

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He said to his disciples, “The harvest [is] plentiful, but the workers [are] few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”