Healing and Forgiving the Paralyzed Man
Study note
When Jesus tells a paralyzed man his sins are forgiven, the scribes accuse him of blasphemy. Jesus responds by healing the man's body to prove his authority to forgive sins -- a claim only God can make. This miracle powerfully reveals that Jesus is not merely a healer but possesses divine authority over both physical suffering and spiritual bondage.
1 Jesus got back in the boat, crossed the lake again, and returned to his own town. And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2 Some people carried a man who could not walk and laid him on a mat before Jesus. When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he looked at the paralyzed man and said, "Take heart, my friend! Your sins are wiped away." And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 Some of the religious teachers heard this and said to each other, "This man is insulting God by talking like that!" And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 Jesus could tell exactly what they were thinking. He asked them, "Why are these ugly thoughts running through your minds?" And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5 "Let me ask you something — which is easier to say: 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Stand up and walk'?" For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6 "Well, I am going to prove to you right now that the Son of man has the authority to forgive sins here on earth." He turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, roll up your mat, and head home." But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7 The man stood right up and walked home. And he arose, and departed to his house.
8 A wave of awe swept through the crowd. They praised God for giving this kind of power to a human being. But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
The Calling of Matthew and Dining with Sinners
Study note
Jesus calls Matthew, a despised tax collector, to be his disciple, and then dines with other tax collectors and sinners. When the Pharisees criticize this, Jesus responds with one of his most memorable statements: 'Those who are well do not need a doctor, but those who are sick do.' Quoting Hosea, he reveals that God desires mercy, not sacrifice, and that his mission is to call sinners, not the self-righteous.
9 As Jesus continued on his way, he spotted a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collection booth. Jesus simply said, "Come follow me." Matthew stood up, left everything behind, and went with him. And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
10 Later, Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house. A large group of tax collectors and people known for their sinful lives came and joined him and his followers at the table. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11 The Pharisees saw this and asked his followers, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 Jesus overheard them and answered, "Healthy people don't go to the doctor — sick people do." But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 "Go figure out what this scripture means: 'I want mercy from you, not animal sacrifices.' My mission is not to invite people who think they already have it all together. I came for the people who know they need help." But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Questions About Fasting and New Wine
Study note
When John's disciples ask why Jesus' followers do not fast, Jesus uses the imagery of a wedding feast to explain that his presence brings joy that makes fasting inappropriate for now. The parables of the unshrunk cloth and new wine illustrate that Jesus' message cannot simply be patched onto old religious systems -- it requires an entirely new framework to contain its transforming power.
14 One day, followers of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked, "We fast all the time, and so do the Pharisees. How come your followers never fast?" Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
15 Jesus told them, "Would you expect wedding guests to feel sad and go without food while the groom is there celebrating with them? The time will come when the groom is taken away — and then they will fast." And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
16 "Nobody patches an old piece of clothing with a new piece of unshrunk fabric. If you do, the new patch shrinks and rips away, leaving an even bigger hole." No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
17 "And nobody pours fresh grape juice into old, stiff wineskins. The pressure would burst them open, ruining both the juice and the containers. Fresh juice needs to go into new, flexible wineskins. That way, both the juice and the skins are kept safe." Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
A Ruler's Daughter and the Bleeding Woman
Study note
Two intertwined stories demonstrate Jesus' power over death and chronic illness. A synagogue ruler's desperate faith leads him to ask Jesus to raise his daughter, while a woman who has suffered twelve years of bleeding touches Jesus' garment in faith and is instantly healed. Both stories highlight that faith -- whether bold or quiet, public or private -- connects people to Jesus' healing power.
18 While Jesus was still talking, a synagogue leader rushed in and dropped to his knees in front of him. He said, "My little daughter just died. But if you come and put your hand on her, I know she will live again." While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
19 Jesus got up and went with him, and his followers came along. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
20 Along the way, a woman came up behind Jesus. She had been bleeding for twelve years. She reached out and barely touched the edge of his robe. And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
21 She kept thinking to herself, "All I have to do is touch his clothing, and that will be enough to make me well." For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
22 Jesus turned around and saw her. He said, "Cheer up, dear woman! Trusting in me is what has made you well." From that very moment, she was completely healed. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
23 When Jesus arrived at the leader's house, he saw musicians playing funeral songs. A noisy crowd of mourners was wailing. And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
24 He told them, "Clear out, everyone. This girl has not died — she is only sleeping." They all laughed at him for saying that. He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
25 After the crowd had been cleared out of the house, Jesus went inside and took the girl's hand. She stood right up, alive and well. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
26 News about what happened raced through the entire region. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
Healing the Blind, the Mute, and the Harvest Call
Study note
Jesus heals two blind men who call him 'Son of David,' affirming his messianic identity, and frees a mute man from demonic oppression. While the crowds marvel, the Pharisees attribute his power to the prince of demons, revealing their hardening opposition. The chapter closes with Jesus' compassion for the crowds who are like sheep without a shepherd, prompting his call to pray for workers for the harvest.
27 As Jesus left that place, two blind men followed after him, yelling, "Son of David, please help us!" And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
28 When Jesus went indoors, the blind men made their way to him. He asked them, "Do you honestly believe I have the power to do this for you?" They answered, "Certainly, Lord." And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
29 He reached out and touched their eyes, saying, "Since you believe, let it happen for you." Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
30 Suddenly they could see! Jesus gave them a firm warning: "Do not let anyone find out about this." And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
31 But the moment they walked out the door, they spread the word about Jesus all across that area. But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
32 On the way out, some people brought Jesus a man who could not talk because a demon was controlling him. As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
33 Jesus drove out the demon, and right away the man began to speak. The crowd was amazed. People said, "Nothing like this has ever happened before in Israel!" And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
34 But the Pharisees said, "He can only throw out demons because he works for the ruler of demons." But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
35 Jesus traveled from town to town and village to village. Everywhere he went, he taught in their meeting places, announced the good news about God's kingdom, and healed every kind of sickness and disease people had. And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
36 Each time he looked out at the crowds, his heart broke for them. They were worn out and wandering around lost, like sheep that had no one to guide them. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37 He told his followers, "Look around — there is an enormous harvest of people ready to be gathered in. But there are hardly any workers to bring them in." Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 "Pray and ask the Lord who is in charge of the harvest to send more workers out into his fields." Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.