1
|
Back in the boat, Jesus and the disciples recrossed the sea to Jesus' hometown. |
2
|
They were hardly out of the boat when some men carried a paraplegic on a stretcher and set him down in front of them. Jesus, impressed by their bold belief, said to the paraplegic, "Cheer up, son. I forgive your sins." |
3
|
Some religion scholars whispered, "Why, that's blasphemy!" |
4
|
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, "Why this gossipy whispering? |
5
|
Which do you think is simpler: to say, 'I forgive your sins,' or, 'Get up and walk'? |
6
|
Well, just so it's clear that I'm the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both. . . ." At this he turned to the paraplegic and said, "Get up. Take your bed and go home." |
8
|
The crowd was awestruck, amazed and pleased that God had authorized Jesus to work among them this way. |
9
|
Passing along, Jesus saw a man at his work collecting taxes. His name was Matthew. Jesus said, "Come along with me." Matthew stood up and followed him. |
10
|
Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew's house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. |
11
|
When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus' followers. "What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riff-raff?" |
12
|
Jesus, overhearing, shot back, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? |
13
|
Go figure out what this Scripture means: 'I'm after mercy, not religion.' I'm here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders." |
14
|
A little later John's followers approached, asking, "Why is it that we and the Pharisees rigorously discipline body and spirit by fasting, but your followers don't?" |
15
|
Jesus told them, "When you're celebrating a wedding, you don't skimp on the cake and wine. You feast. Later you may need to pull in your belt, but not now. No one throws cold water on a friendly bonfire. This is Kingdom Come!" |
16
|
He went on, "No one cuts up a fine silk scarf to patch old work clothes; you want fabrics that match. |
17
|
And you don't put your wine in cracked bottles." |
18
|
As he finished saying this, a local official appeared, bowed politely, and said, "My daughter has just now died. If you come and touch her, she will live." |
19
|
Jesus got up and went with him, his disciples following along. |
20
|
Just then a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years slipped in from behind and lightly touched his robe. |
21
|
She was thinking to herself, "If I can just put a finger on his robe, I'll get well." Jesus turned--caught her at it. Then he reassured her: "Courage, daughter. You took a risk of faith, and now you're well." |
22
|
The woman was well from then on. |
23
|
By now they had arrived at the house of the town official, and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and the neighbors bringing in casseroles. |
24
|
Jesus was abrupt: "Clear out! This girl isn't dead. She's sleeping." They told him he didn't know what he was talking about. |
25
|
But when Jesus had gotten rid of the crowd, he went in, took the girl's hand, and pulled her to her feet--alive. |
26
|
The news was soon out, and traveled throughout the region. |
27
|
As Jesus left the house, he was followed by two blind men crying out, "Mercy, Son of David! Mercy on us!" |
28
|
When Jesus got home, the blind men went in with him. Jesus said to them, "Do you really believe I can do this?" They said, "Why, yes, Master!" |
29
|
He touched their eyes and said, "Become what you believe." |
30
|
It happened. They saw. Then Jesus became very stern. "Don't let a soul know how this happened." |
31
|
But they were hardly out the door before they started blabbing it to everyone they met. |
32
|
Right after that, as the blind men were leaving, a man who had been struck speechless by an evil spirit was brought to Jesus. |
33
|
As soon as Jesus threw the evil tormenting spirit out, the man talked away just as if he'd been talking all his life. The people were up on their feet applauding: "There's never been anything like this in Israel!" |
34
|
The Pharisees were left sputtering, "Hocus pocus. It's nothing but hocus pocus. He's probably made a pact with the Devil." |
35
|
Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. |
36
|
When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. |
37
|
"What a huge harvest!" he said to his disciples. "How few workers! |
38
|
On your knees and pray for harvest hands!" |
Matthew 9:1 English Language Bible Words basic statistical display
COMING SOON ...