Nonetheless, His fame was spread even more abroad. Great multitudes gathered to hear and be healed of their infirmities by Him. Jesus withdrew Himself into the wilderness to pray.
One day He was teaching and the power of the Lord to heal was upon Him. There were gathered people that had come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem. Pharisees and doctors of the law sat among them.
Men approached carrying a bed with a man who had a palsy. They looked for a way to bring him in and lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop and lowered him down on his couch through the tiling and into the midst of where Jesus stood. When Jesus saw their faith, He said, Son, thy sins are forgiven thee.
The scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? When Jesus perceived their thoughts, He said to them, Why question in your hearts whether it is easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or, to say, Rise up and walk? That ye may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (He said to the sick man), Arise. Take up thy couch and go to your home. Immediately he rose up before them, took up that upon which he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. They were all amazed and glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things today.
After these things, He went forth and saw a publican named Levi who was sitting at the receipt of custom. He said to him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed Him. Levi made Him a great feast in his own house. There was a large company of publicans and others that sat down with them.
The scribes and Pharisees murmured against His disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? Jesus answered and said to them, Those who are whole do not need a physician; but they that are sick do. I came not to call the righteous, but to call sinners to repentance.
Then they said to Him, Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but your disciples eat and drink? Jesus said to them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them. Then they shall fast.
He spoke also a parable to them. No man puts a piece of a new garment on an old one; if he does, the new makes a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. And no man puts new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man, having drunk old wine, straightway desires new, because he says, The old is better.
6 It came to pass that on the second sabbath after the first, Jesus passed through corn fields; and His disciples plucked ears of corn to eat, rubbing them in their hands. Certain of the Pharisees said to them, Why do ye do that which is not lawful on the sabbath days?
Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read what David did, when he and those who were with him were hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the showbread to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him; which is not lawful to eat and is only for the priests? Jesus said to them, The Son of man is also Lord of the sabbath.