Jesus Heals a Paralytic
(Matthew 9:1-8; Luke 5:17-26)
1And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 8And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 9Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
Jesus Calls Levi
(Matthew 9:9-13; Luke 5:27-32)
13And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.
14And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
15And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. 16And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? 17When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Jesus Questioned about Fasting
(Matthew 9:14-15; Luke 5:33-35)
18And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? 19And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
The Patches and Wineskins
(Matthew 9:16-17; Luke 5:36-39)
21No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. 22And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
The Lord of the Sabbath
(1 Samuel 21:1-9; Matthew 12:1-8; Luke 6:1-5)
23And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. 24And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? 25And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? 26How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? 27And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
(Matthew 9:1–8; Luke 5:17–26)
1 When he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was heard that he was in the house. 2 Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word to them. 3 Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him. 4 When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on. 5 Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” 6 But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts?
9 Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?’ 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—
11 “I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house.” 12 He arose, and immediately took up the mat, and went out in front of them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Jesus Calls Levi
(Matthew 9:9–13; Luke 5:27–32)
13 He went out again by the seaside. All the multitude came to him, and he taught them.
14 As he passed by, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he arose and followed him.
15 It happened, that he was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him. 16 The scribes and the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Questions about Fasting
(Matthew 9:14–15; Luke 5:33–35)
18 John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and they came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?” 19 Jesus said to them, “Can the groomsmen fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they can’t fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then will they fast in that day.
The Patches and the Wineskins
(Matthew 9:16–17; Luke 5:36–39)
21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, or else the patch shrinks and the new tears away from the old, and a worse hole is made. 22 No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine pours out, and the skins will be destroyed; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins.”
The Lord of the Sabbath
(1 Samuel 21:1–7; Matthew 12:1–8; Luke 6:1–5)
23 It happened that he was going on the Sabbath day through the grain fields, and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?” 25 He said to them, “Did you never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry—he, and those who were with him? 26 How he entered into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the show bread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him?” 27 He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
(Matthew 9:1–8; Luke 5:17–26)
1 A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum. And when the people heard that He was home, 2 they gathered in such large numbers that there was no more room, not even outside the door, as Jesus spoke the word to them.
3 Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men. 4 Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 At once Jesus knew in His spirit that they were thinking this way within themselves. “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?” He asked. 9 “Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic, 11 “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
12 And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. As a result, they were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Jesus Calls Levi
(Matthew 9:9–13; Luke 5:27–32)
13 Once again Jesus went out beside the sea. All the people came to Him, and He taught them there.
14 As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.
15 While Jesus was dining at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples—for there were many who followed Him. 16 When the scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat a with tax collectors and sinners?”
17 On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Questions about Fasting
(Matthew 9:14–15; Luke 5:33–35)
18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting. So people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?”
19 Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? As long as He is with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
The Patches and the Wineskins
(Matthew 9:16–17; Luke 5:36–39)
21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, and a worse tear will result.
22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.” b
The Lord of the Sabbath
(1 Samuel 21:1–7; Matthew 12:1–8; Luke 6:1–5)
23 One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain as they walked along. 24 So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
25 Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, c which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.”
27 Then Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Footnotes:
16 a BYZ and TR include and drink ; see Luke 5:30.
22 b Tischendorf does not include Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins .
26 c Or the Bread of the Presence
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
(Matthew 9:1-8; Luke 5:17-26)
1And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days, and it was heard that he is in the house, 2and immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door, and he was speaking to them the word. 3And they come unto him, bringing a paralytic, borne by four, 4and not being able to come near to him because of the multitude, they uncovered the roof where he was, and, having broken it up, they let down the couch on which the paralytic was lying, 5and Jesus having seen their faith, saith to the paralytic, 'Child, thy sins have been forgiven thee.' 6And there were certain of the scribes there sitting, and reasoning in their hearts, 7'Why doth this one thus speak evil words? who is able to forgive sins except one -- God?' 8And immediately Jesus, having known in his spirit that they thus reason in themselves, said to them, 'Why these things reason ye in your hearts? 9which is easier, to say to the paralytic, The sins have been forgiven to thee? or to say, Rise, and take up thy couch, and walk? 10'And, that ye may know that the Son of Man hath authority on the earth to forgive sins -- (he saith to the paralytic) -- 11I say to thee, Rise, and take up thy couch, and go away to thy house;' 12and he rose immediately, and having taken up the couch, he went forth before all, so that all were astonished, and do glorify God, saying -- 'Never thus did we see.'
Jesus Calls Levi
(Matthew 9:9-13; Luke 5:27-32)
13And he went forth again by the sea, and all the multitude was coming unto him, and he was teaching them,
14and passing by, he saw Levi of Alpheus sitting at the tax-office, and saith to him, 'Be following me,' and he, having risen, did follow him.
15And it came to pass, in his reclining (at meat) in his house, that many tax-gatherers and sinners were reclining (at meat) with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him. 16And the scribes and the Pharisees, having seen him eating with the tax-gatherers and sinners, said to his disciples, 'Why -- that with the tax-gatherers and sinners he doth eat and drink?' 17And Jesus, having heard, saith to them, 'They who are strong have no need of a physician, but they who are ill; I came not to call righteous men, but sinners to reformation.'
Jesus Questioned about Fasting
(Matthew 9:14-15; Luke 5:33-35)
18And the disciples of John and those of the Pharisees were fasting, and they come and say to him, 'Wherefore do the disciples of John and those of the Pharisees fast, and thy disciples do not fast?' 19And Jesus said to them, 'Are the sons of the bride-chamber able, while the bridegroom is with them, to fast? so long time as they have the bridegroom with them they are not able to fast; 20but days shall come when the bridegroom may be taken from them, and then they shall fast -- in those days.
The Patches and Wineskins
(Matthew 9:16-17; Luke 5:36-39)
21'And no one a patch of undressed cloth doth sew on an old garment, and if not -- the new filling it up doth take from the old and the rent doth become worse; 22and no one doth put new wine into old skins, and if not -- the new wine doth burst the skins, and the wine is poured out, and the skins will be destroyed; but new wine into new skins is to be put.'
The Lord of the Sabbath
(1 Samuel 21:1-9; Matthew 12:1-8; Luke 6:1-5)
23And it came to pass -- he is going along on the sabbaths through the corn-fields -- and his disciples began to make a way, plucking the ears, 24and the Pharisees said to him, 'Lo, why do they on the sabbaths that which is not lawful?' 25And he said to them, 'Did ye never read what David did, when he had need and was hungry, he and those with him? 26how he went into the house of God, (at 'Abiathar the chief priest,') and the loaves of the presentation did eat, which it is not lawful to eat, except to the priests, and he gave also to those who were with him?' 27And he said to them, 'The sabbath for man was made, not man for the sabbath, 28so that the son of man is lord also of the sabbath.'
The Favor of God Message paraphrase
Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
¹ A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that He had come home.
² They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and He preached the word to them.
³ Some men came, bringing to Him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.
⁴ Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.
⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
⁶ Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,
⁷ “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
⁸ Immediately Jesus knew in His spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and He said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?
⁹ Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?
¹⁰ But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So He said to the man,
¹¹ “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home!”
¹² He got up, took his mat, and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone, and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners
¹³ Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to Him, and He began to teach them.
¹⁴ As He walked along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow Me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.
¹⁵ While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him.
¹⁶ When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw Him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
¹⁷ On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus Questioned About Fasting
¹⁸ Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but Yours are not?”
¹⁹ Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? They cannot, so long as they have Him with them.
²⁰ But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.
²¹ No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.
²² And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
²³ One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as His disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.
²⁴ The Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
²⁵ He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?
²⁶ In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
²⁷ Then He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
²⁸ So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Footnotes:
2:4: In ancient homes, roofs were often flat and made of thatch or clay, making it possible to dig through to lower the man to Jesus. This act of faith by the friends exemplifies determination to reach Jesus despite obstacles.
2:5: In Jewish thought, disease and paralysis were often associated with sin. By forgiving the man’s sins, Jesus is claiming divine authority, challenging the religious leaders’ understanding.
2:7: Blasphemy in this context means claiming to do what only God can do. The teachers of the law believed Jesus was overstepping His role by offering forgiveness.
2:19: The image of a bridegroom refers to Jesus, and the time of celebration symbolizes His presence with the disciples. The fasting that will come later reflects times of sorrow after His departure.
2:22: The metaphor of new wine and old wineskins illustrates the incompatibility of Jesus’ message with the rigid religious traditions of the Pharisees. Jesus brings something new that cannot fit into the old structures.
2:24: The Pharisees’ question about the Sabbath reflects their strict interpretation of the law. Picking grain was considered work, thus unlawful on the Sabbath.
2:27: Jesus redefines the Sabbath as a gift for people’s benefit, not a burden. His lordship over the Sabbath emphasizes His authority to interpret and fulfill the law.
