Introduction
Jesus tells the religious leaders why he has come.
Verses
1He entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city.
2Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralysed, lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.”
3Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes.”
4Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk?’
6But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins-” (then he said to the paralytic), “Get up, and take up your mat, and go to your house.”
7He arose and departed to his house.
8But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
9As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him.
10As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.
11When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.
13But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
14Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?”
15Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
16No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made.
17Neither do people put new wine into old wine skins, or else the skins would burst, and the wine be spilled, and the skins ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wine skins, and both are preserved.”
18While he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshipped him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”
19Jesus got up and followed him, as did his disciples.
20Behold, a woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment;
21for she said within herself, “If I just touch his garment, I will be made well.”
22But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, “Daughter, cheer up! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
23When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players, and the crowd in noisy disorder,
25But when the crowd was put out, he entered in, took her by the hand, and the girl arose.
26The report of this went out into all that land.
27As Jesus passed by from there, two blind men followed him, calling out and saying, “Have mercy on us, son of David!”
28When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
They told him, “Yes, Lord.”
They told him, “Yes, Lord.”
29Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”
30Their eyes were opened. Jesus strictly commanded them, saying, “See that no one knows about this.”
31But they went out and spread abroad his fame in all that land.
32As they went out, behold, a mute man who was demon possessed was brought to him.
33When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. The multitudes marvelled, saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”
34But the Pharisees said, “By the prince of the demons, he casts out demons.”
35Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness amongst the people.
36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.
37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the labourers are few.
Questions
1. What did Jesus say and do to show he had authority to forgive sins?
v 4 to 6 Jesus, ... said, ... which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins-” (then he said to the paralytic), “Get up, and take up your mat, and go to your house.”
2. What kind of people did Jesus say he had come to call?
v 13 ... for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
3. What one good and one bad characteristic did the two blind men have?
v 28 and 29: ... Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
They told him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”
v 30 and 31 ... Jesus strictly commanded them, saying, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread abroad his fame in all that land.
Summary Points
- v 1 to 8 Some scribes think Jesus is blaspheming when he tells a paralytic that his sins are forgiven. He heals the man to show he really has this authority
- v 9 to 13 Jesus calls Matthew. He says he has come to call sinners when he is criticised by the Pharisees for eating with sinners in Matthew's house
- v 14 to 17 John's disciples ask why Jesus' disciples don't fast like they and the Pharisees do. Jesus says that his disciples have no reason to fast while he is with them. He then says the new doesn't go with the old
- v 18 to 26 Jesus is asked by a ruler to raise his daughter back to life. On the way a woman with an issue of blood is healed by touching the fringe of Jesus' garment. Jesus raises the ruler's daughter after being ridiculed for saying she is only sleeping
- v 27 to 34 Jesus heals two blind men and a mute man who is demon-possessed
- v 35 to 38 Jesus teaches and heals and is moved with compassion for the people
Audio