Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Matthew 9
A Paralytic Forgiven and Healed
Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own town. And look—some people brought him a paralyzed man lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take courage, child. Your sins are forgiven.” Then some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? Which is easier—to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then he said to the paralytic—“Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.” The man got up and went home. When the crowds saw this, they were afraid and glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.
Matthew Is Called
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. He said to him, “Follow me.” Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard, he said, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but those who are sick do. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Questions About Fasting
Then John's disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is with them? But days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, because the patch pulls away from the garment and makes the tear worse. Neither do people put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills, and the skins are ruined. Instead, new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”
A Girl Raised and a Woman Healed
While Jesus was saying these things, a ruler came, bowed before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus got up and followed him, along with his disciples. And look—a woman who had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak. For she was saying to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be saved.” Jesus turned, saw her, and said, “Take courage, daughter. Your faith has saved you.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
When Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away. The girl has not died but is sleeping.” And they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, Jesus went in, took her by the hand, and the girl got up. News about this spread throughout that entire region.
Two Blind Men Receive Sight
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus asked them, “Do you trust that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it happen for you according to your faith.” Their eyes were opened. Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread news about him throughout that whole region.
A Mute Man Speaks
As they were going out, look—a demonized man who could not speak was brought to Jesus. After the demon was cast out, the man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”
Compassion for the Crowds
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”