9:1 Then he got into a ship and traveled over to his own village.
9:2 Suddenly they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a cot. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the sick man, “Son, rejoice because your sins are forgiven of you.”
9:3 Then immediately, some of the scribes said amongst themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming.”
9:4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus replied, “Why do you entertain wicked thoughts in your hearts?
9:5 Which is easier: Saying, ‘your sins are forgiven’ – or saying, ‘get up and walk?’
9:6 But you should know that the Servant of Humanity has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat and go home.”
9:7 Then he got up and went home.
9:8 When the crowds saw this they were amazed, and praised God – who had given such authority to someone.
9:9 As Jesus traveled on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector stall and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.
9:10 Later on, Jesus and some of his disciples sat down and dined together with many publicans and sinners.
9:11 When the pharisees saw this they asked his disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with publicans and sinners?”
9:12 But when Jesus heard this, he told them, “Those who are healthy do not need a doctor – only those who are sick.
9:13 Now go, and learn what this means: “I desire compassion and not sacrifice,’1 for I did not come to call the devoted – but the sinners.”
9:14 Then some disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the pharisees fast often but your disciples don’t fast?”
9:15 Jesus asked them, “Do the servants in the bridal chamber mourn when the bridegroom is with them? A time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them and then they will fast.
9:16 No one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth onto an old garment, for such a patch will come apart from the garment – causing a worse tear.
9:17 Nor do people put new wine into old flasks – or else the flasks will break and the wine will leak out and the flasks will be ruined. Rather, they put new wine into new flasks and both are preserved.”
9:18 While he was speaking, a temple official came and bowed down before him and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand upon her and she will live.”
9:19 Thus Jesus got up and followed him along with his disciples.
9:20 Suddenly a woman who was ill with a blood disorder for twelve years came behind him and touched the hem of his cloak.
9:21 For she had said to herself, ‘If I can only touch his cloak I will be whole.’
9:22 But Jesus turned around and when he saw her, he said, “Child, have courage, your faith has made you whole.” The woman was healed at that moment.
9:23 When Jesus came into the official’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing flutes –
9:24 he said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeps.” They laughed and ridiculed him.
9:25 But when the people left, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl woke up.
9:26 The news of this spread throughout the region.
9:27 When Jesus left there, two blind men came after him and cried out, “Have mercy on us, follower of David!”
9:28 When he had arrived home, the blind men approached him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you trust that I am able to do this?” They replied, “Yes, Master.”
9:29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done, according to your faith.”
9:30 And their eyes could see, and Jesus instructed them clearly, saying, “See that no one finds out.”
9:31 But when they left, they spread the news about him throughout the region.
9:32 After they left, they brought back to him a deaf and mute man possessed by a demon.
9:33 After the demon had been cast out, the man spoke, and the crowd was amazed, saying, “This has never been seen in Israel.”
9:34 But the pharisees said, “He casts out demons through the prince of demons.”
9:35 Then Jesus traveled throughout the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the sanctuary. and healing all kinds of sickness and disease among the people.
9:36 As he saw the crowds, he was moved with compassion for them – because they were troubled and confused like sheep without a shepherd.
9:37 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is truly plentiful, but the workers are few;
9:38 Pray, therefore, to the LORD of the harvest, that He will send for workers to tend His harvest.”
9:2 Suddenly they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a cot. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the sick man, “Son, rejoice because your sins are forgiven of you.”
9:3 Then immediately, some of the scribes said amongst themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming.”
9:4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus replied, “Why do you entertain wicked thoughts in your hearts?
9:5 Which is easier: Saying, ‘your sins are forgiven’ – or saying, ‘get up and walk?’
9:6 But you should know that the Servant of Humanity has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat and go home.”
9:7 Then he got up and went home.
9:8 When the crowds saw this they were amazed, and praised God – who had given such authority to someone.
9:9 As Jesus traveled on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector stall and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.
9:10 Later on, Jesus and some of his disciples sat down and dined together with many publicans and sinners.
9:11 When the pharisees saw this they asked his disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with publicans and sinners?”
9:12 But when Jesus heard this, he told them, “Those who are healthy do not need a doctor – only those who are sick.
9:13 Now go, and learn what this means: “I desire compassion and not sacrifice,’1 for I did not come to call the devoted – but the sinners.”
9:14 Then some disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the pharisees fast often but your disciples don’t fast?”
9:15 Jesus asked them, “Do the servants in the bridal chamber mourn when the bridegroom is with them? A time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them and then they will fast.
9:16 No one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth onto an old garment, for such a patch will come apart from the garment – causing a worse tear.
9:17 Nor do people put new wine into old flasks – or else the flasks will break and the wine will leak out and the flasks will be ruined. Rather, they put new wine into new flasks and both are preserved.”
9:18 While he was speaking, a temple official came and bowed down before him and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand upon her and she will live.”
9:19 Thus Jesus got up and followed him along with his disciples.
9:20 Suddenly a woman who was ill with a blood disorder for twelve years came behind him and touched the hem of his cloak.
9:21 For she had said to herself, ‘If I can only touch his cloak I will be whole.’
9:22 But Jesus turned around and when he saw her, he said, “Child, have courage, your faith has made you whole.” The woman was healed at that moment.
9:23 When Jesus came into the official’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing flutes –
9:24 he said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeps.” They laughed and ridiculed him.
9:25 But when the people left, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl woke up.
9:26 The news of this spread throughout the region.
9:27 When Jesus left there, two blind men came after him and cried out, “Have mercy on us, follower of David!”
9:28 When he had arrived home, the blind men approached him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you trust that I am able to do this?” They replied, “Yes, Master.”
9:29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done, according to your faith.”
9:30 And their eyes could see, and Jesus instructed them clearly, saying, “See that no one finds out.”
9:31 But when they left, they spread the news about him throughout the region.
9:32 After they left, they brought back to him a deaf and mute man possessed by a demon.
9:33 After the demon had been cast out, the man spoke, and the crowd was amazed, saying, “This has never been seen in Israel.”
9:34 But the pharisees said, “He casts out demons through the prince of demons.”
9:35 Then Jesus traveled throughout the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the sanctuary. and healing all kinds of sickness and disease among the people.
9:36 As he saw the crowds, he was moved with compassion for them – because they were troubled and confused like sheep without a shepherd.
9:37 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is truly plentiful, but the workers are few;
9:38 Pray, therefore, to the LORD of the harvest, that He will send for workers to tend His harvest.”
Footnote:
1. Verse 9:13 -
Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears. Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth— then my judgments go forth like the sun. For I desire mercy [חֶסֶד (checed) = compassion], not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:3 NIV)
