15
However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.
16
So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
17
Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
18
Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him.
19
And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.
20
When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."
21
And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
22
But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?
23
Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'?
24
But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"--He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."
25
Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
26
And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!"
27
After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me."
28
So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.
29
Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them.
30
And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"
31
Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
32
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
33
Then they said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?"
34
And He said to them, "Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them?
35
But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days."