Jesus Heals a Paralytic
(Matthew 9:1–8; Luke 5:17–26)

1Some time after he returned to Capernaum; upon the rumour that he was there, 2so great a company assembled, that there was no room for them in the house, nor even about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3then they came and presented to him a paralytic, who had four men to carry him. 4who finding it impossible to come nigh Him because of the press, uncovered the roof where He was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the cradle wherein the paralytic lay. 5Jesus perceiving their faith, said to the sick of the palsy, son, thy sins are forgiven. 6but there were certain of the Scribes sitting there, who were dissatisfied in their own minds, and said to themselves, 7why doth this man speak such blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God? 8and immediately Jesus perceiving by his spirit, that they made these secret reflections, said, why do you entertain such suggestions?

9is it not as easy to say to the paralytic, thy sins are forgiven: as to say, arise, and take up your bed and walk? 10however, to let you see that the son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, rise, said he, to the sick of the palsy,

11'tis I command you, take up thy bed, and go to your home. 12instantly he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, we never saw any thing like this.

Jesus Calls Levi
(Matthew 9:9–13; Luke 5:27–32)

13Another time as he was by the sea-side, the people came all crowding to him, and he instructed them.

14as he passed along, he saw Levi the son of Alpheus, sitting at the custom-house, and said to him, follow me, accordingly he arose and followed him.

15at length as Jesus sat at table in Levi's house, several publicans and loose people sat down likewise in company with Jesus, and his disciples: for a good number of them had followed him. 16when the Scribes and Pharisees saw him eating with such a crew, they ask'd his disciples, what's the meaning that he is so familiar with people of such a wretched character? 17Jesus hearing this, said to them, they that are in health, have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

Questions about Fasting
(Matthew 9:14–15; Luke 5:33–35)

18It was customary for the Pharisees, and the disciples of John, to fast; they came therefore and ask'd him, why do John's disciples, and the Pharisees fast so frequently, and not your disciples? 19Jesus answered, can the bridemen fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20but the time will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast.

The Patches and the Wineskins
(Matthew 9:16–17; Luke 5:36–39)

21indeed no man ever sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment: because the new piece that is patch'd on, draws the old, and rends it still worse. 22so no man pours new wine into old skins, for that would burst them, and then both would be lost: but new wine must be put into new skins.

The Lord of the Sabbath
(Matthew 12:1–8; Luke 6:1–5)

23Another time, as he was going through the corn-fields on the sabbath-day, his disciples as they pass'd along began to pluck the ears of corn. 24upon which the Pharisees said to him, pray observe how they trespass on the sabbath-day. 25but he replied, have ye never read what David, and the rest of the company did, when they were press'd with hunger? 26how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar, who was afterwards high-priest, and did eat the shew-bread, giving some of it likewise to the company, though the law allow'd no body to eat of it but the priests. 27adding this observation, "the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath." 28therefore the son of man has a power of dispensing with the law of the sabbath.