Matthew 9
Healing and Forgiving a Paralytic
9:1 After getting into a boat he crossed to the other side and came to his own town.1 9:2 Just then2 some people3 brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.4 When Jesus saw their5 faith, he said to the paralytic, “Have courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.”6 9:3 Then7 some of the experts in the law8 said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!”9 9:4 When Jesus saw their reaction he said, “Why do you respond with evil in your hearts? 9:5 Which is easier,10 to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? 9:6 But so that you may know11 that the Son of Man12 has authority on earth to forgive sins” – then he said to the paralytic13 – “Stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.”14 9:7 And he stood up and went home.15 9:8 When16 the crowd saw this, they were afraid17 and honored God who had given such authority to men.18
The Call of Matthew; Eating with Sinners
9:9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth.19 “Follow me,” he said to him. And he got up and followed him. 9:10 As20 Jesus21 was having a meal22 in Matthew’s23 house, many tax collectors24 and sinners came and ate with Jesus and his disciples. 9:11 When the Pharisees25 saw this they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”26 9:12 When27 Jesus heard this he said, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do.28 9:13 Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’29 For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The Superiority of the New
9:14 Then John’s30 disciples came to Jesus31 and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees32 fast often,33 but your disciples don’t fast?” 9:15 Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests34 cannot mourn while the bridegroom35 is with them, can they? But the days36 are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them,37 and then they will fast. 9:16 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, because the patch will pull away from the garment and the tear will be worse. 9:17 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins;38 otherwise the skins burst and the wine is spilled out and the skins are destroyed. Instead they put new wine into new wineskins39 and both are preserved.”
Restoration and Healing
9:18 As he was saying these things, a ruler came, bowed low before him, and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live.” 9:19 Jesus and his disciples got up and followed him. 9:20 But40 a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage41 for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge42 of his cloak.43 9:21 For she kept saying to herself,44 “If only I touch his cloak, I will be healed.”45 9:22 But when Jesus turned and saw her he said, “Have courage, daughter! Your faith has made you well.”46 And the woman was healed47 from that hour. 9:23 When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the disorderly crowd, 9:24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but asleep.” And they began making fun of him.48 9:25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and gently took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 9:26 And the news of this spread throughout that region.49
Healing the Blind and Mute
9:27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, shouting,50 “Have mercy51 on us, Son of David!”52 9:28 When53 he went into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus54 said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 9:29 Then he touched their eyes saying, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” 9:30 And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about this.” 9:31 But they went out and spread the news about him throughout that entire region.55
9:32 As56 they were going away,57 a man who could not talk and was demon-possessed was brought to him. 9:33 After the demon was cast out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Never has anything like this been seen in Israel!” 9:34 But the Pharisees58 said, “By the ruler59 of demons he casts out demons.”60
Workers for the Harvest
9:35 Then Jesus went throughout all the towns61 and villages, teaching in their synagogues,62 preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness.63 9:36 When64 he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless,65 like sheep without a shepherd. 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 9:38 Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest66 to send out67 workers into his harvest.”