Some people brought to Jesus a man that was paralyzed (crippled). The man was lying on a mat. Jesus saw that these people had much faith. So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Young man, you'll be glad to hear this! Your sins are forgiven."
The Son of Man F102 has power on earth to forgive sins. But how can I prove this to you? Maybe you are thinking it was easy for me to say, 'Your sins are forgiven.' {No one could see if it really happened.} But what if I say to the man, 'Stand up and walk'? Then you will be able to see that I really have this power." So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Stand up. Take your mat and go home."
When Jesus was leaving, he saw a man named Matthew. Matthew was sitting at his place for collecting taxes. Jesus said to him, "Follow me." Then Matthew stood up and followed Jesus.
The Pharisees F104 saw that Jesus was eating with these people. The Pharisees asked Jesus' followers, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and other bad people?"
Jesus heard the Pharisees F105 say this. So Jesus said to the Pharisees, "Healthy people don't need a doctor. It is the sick people that need a doctor.
I will tell you something. Go and learn what it means: 'I don't want animal sacrifices; I want you to show kindness to people.' F106 I did not come to invite good people. I came to invite sinners."
Jesus answered, "{When there is a wedding,} the friends of the bridegroom F110 are not sad while he is with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will leave them. The friends are sad when the bridegroom leaves. Then they will fast. F111
"When a person sews a patch over a hole on an old coat, he never uses a piece of cloth that is not yet shrunk. If he does, the patch will {shrink and} pull away from the coat. Then the hole will be worse.
Also, people never pour new wine into old wine bags. F112 Why? Because the old bags will break. The wine will spill, and the wine bags will be ruined. But people always pour new wine into new wine bags. Then the wine and the wine bags will continue to be good."
While Jesus was saying these things, a leader of the synagogue F113 came to him. The leader bowed down before Jesus and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and touch her with your hand, and she will live again."
Jesus continued going with the Jewish leader and went into the leader's house. Jesus saw people there that make music for funerals. And he saw many people there upset {because the girl died}.
Jesus went inside, and the blind men went with him. Jesus asked the men, "Do you believe that I am able to make you see again?" The blind men answered, "Yes, Lord, we believe."
Jesus forced the demon to leave the man. Then the man that couldn't talk was able to speak. The people were amazed and said, "We have never seen anything like this in Israel."
Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages. Jesus taught in their synagogues F118 and told people the Good News about the kingdom. And Jesus healed all kinds of diseases and sicknesses.
Jesus saw the many people and felt sorry for them. Jesus felt sorry for the people because the people were worried and helpless. The people were like sheep without a shepherd to lead them.