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.
It came to pass on another sabbath, He entered the synagogue and taught. There was a man whose right hand was withered. The scribes and Pharisees watched whether He would heal on the sabbath day so they might find an accusation against Him.
Jesus knew their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, Rise up. Stand forth in the midst. The man arose and stood forth. Then Jesus said to them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy it? Then looking around at them, He said to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. As the man did so, his hand was restored whole as the other. They were filled with anger and discussed what they might do to Jesus.