Matthew:9

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* Jesus entered a boat and crossed over to his own city , on the other side of the lake . * A man on a bed , a paralytic , was brought to Jesus . Seeing their faith Jesus said to the sick man : »Have courage ; your sins are forgiven .« * Some of the scribes said among themselves : »This man has no respect for God .« * Knowing their thoughts , Jesus said : »Why are your thoughts evil ? * »Which is easier , to say , your sins are forgiven , or to say , get up and walk ?« * So that you know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins : »Get up , take your bed and go to your house .« * He arose , and departed to his house . * But when the people saw it , they marveled , and glorified God who had given such authority to men . * Jesus moved on . He then saw Matthew seated at his work collecting taxes . He said to him : »Follow me .« He rose and followed him . * Jesus was a dinner guest at Matthew ’s house . Many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples . * When the Pharisees saw it , they asked his disciples : »Why does your Teacher eat with the tax collectors and sinners ?« * When he heard it , he said : »People who are well do not have need of a physician . The sick do . * »You should learn what this means : ‘I desire mercy , and not sacrifice ’; for I came , not to call the righteous , but sinners .« * The disciples of John asked : »Why do your disciples not fast ?« They frequently fasted , and so did the Pharisees . * Jesus replied : »Should the wedding guests mourn and also celebrate with the groom ? The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them . Then they will fast . * »Why patch an old garment with cloth that has not been shrunk ? The patch shrinks and pulls away from the old cloth leaving a big hole . * »Neither do men put new wine in old wineskins . The skins burst and the wine is lost . They put new wine in fresh wineskins , and both are preserved .« * While he was speaking , an official came and paid him respect . He said : »By now my daughter must be dead . Come and lay your hand on her and she will live .« * Jesus and his disciples got up and followed him . * A woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years came behind him . She touched the border of his garment . * She said to herself : »If I touch his garment , I will be healed .« * Jesus turned to see her and said : »Daughter , take courage ; your faith has made you well .« The woman was healed at that time . * Jesus went into the official ’s house and saw flute players and the crowd making a lot of noise . * He told them to leave : »For the girl is not dead , but sleeps .« They all scornfully laughed at him . * The people were sent away . He went to the girl , took hold of her hand , and she got up . * The news about this spread to all the land . * Jesus left that place and walked along the road . Two blind men followed him . They shouted : »Have mercy on us , Son of David !« * He went into a nearby house . The blind men followed him . Jesus asked them : »Do you believe that I can heal you ?« They said : »Yes Lord .« * He touched their eyes . »Let it be done ,« he said , »according to your faith .« * Their eyes were opened . Jesus strictly warned them : »Do not let anyone know about this .« * They spread the news about Jesus all over that part of the country . * Next , a dumb man possessed with a demon was brought to him . * When the demon was cast out , the dumb man spoke . The crowd marveled , saying : »We have never seen anything like this in Israel !« * The Pharisees complained : »He casts out demons with the help of the ruler of the demons .« * Jesus went to all the cities and the villages , teaching in their synagogues , and preaching the good news of the kingdom . He healed every sort of disease and every sort of infirmity . * When he saw the large crowds of people , he was moved with compassion for them . He knew they were distressed and scattered like sheep not having a shepherd . * Jesus said to his disciples : »The harvest is abundant , but the laborers are few . * »Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers into his harvest .«

---