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Matthew 9:1-13 NLT


Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man

Matthew 9:1-13 Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town.

Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven."

But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, "That's blasphemy! Does he think he's God?"

Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? 

Is it easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Stand up and walk?

So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home."

And the man jumped up and went home.

Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for giving humans such authority.

Jesus Calls Matthew

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.

Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner quests, along with many tax collectors and disreputable sinners.

But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with such scum?"

When Jesus heard this, he said, "Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do. 

Then he added, Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices." For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous,  but those who know they are sinners."

Jesus and the Prince of Demons

Matthew 12:22-30 Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn't speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see.

The crowd was amazed and asked, "Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?"

But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, "No wonder he can cast out demons, He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons."

Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, "Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town of family splintered by feuding will fall apart.

And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. 

And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? The cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said.

But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has arrived among you. 

For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger--someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

Anyone who isn't with me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me.

Mark 2:3-5 Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.

They couldn't bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My child, your sins are forgiven."

Luke 5:18-20 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus,

but they couldn't reach him because of the crowd. So they went up on the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus,

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, "Young man, your sins are forgiven."

Matthew 11:16-19 "To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square.  They complain to their friends,

'We played wedding songs, and you didn't dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn't mourn.'

For John didn't spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, 'He's possessed by a demon.' 

The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, 'He's a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!' But wisdom is shown to be right by its results."

Hosea 6:6 I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.

Matthew 12:7-8 But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.'

For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!