Matthäus 9 | New International Reader’s Version

Jesus forgives and heals a man who could not walk

1 Jesus stepped into a boat. He went over to the other side of the lake and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a man who could not walk. He was lying on a mat. Jesus saw that they had faith. So he said to the man, ‘Don’t lose hope, son. Your sins are forgiven.’ 3 Then some teachers of the law said to themselves, ‘This fellow is saying a very evil thing!’ 4 Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said, ‘Why do you have evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Is it easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven”? Or to say, “Get up and walk”? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ So he spoke to the man who could not walk. ‘Get up’, he said. ‘Take your mat and go home.’ 7 The man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with wonder. They praised God for giving that kind of authority to a human being.

Jesus chooses Matthew and eats with sinners

9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew. He was sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me’, Jesus told him. Matthew got up and followed him. 10 Later Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house. Many tax collectors and sinners came. They ate with Jesus and his disciples. 11 The Pharisees saw this. So they asked the disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ 12 Jesus heard this. So he said, ‘Those who are healthy don’t need a doctor. Ill people do. 13 Go and learn what this means, “I want mercy and not sacrifice.” I have not come to get those who think they are right with God to follow me. I have come to get sinners to follow me.’

Jesus is asked about fasting

14 One day John’s disciples came. They said to Jesus, ‘We and the Pharisees often go without eating. Why don’t your disciples go without eating?’ 15 Jesus answered, ‘How can the guests of the groom be sad while he is with them? The time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast. 16 ‘People don’t sew a patch of new cloth on old clothes. The new piece will pull away from the old. That will make the tear worse. 17 People don’t pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst. The wine will run out, and the wineskins will be destroyed. No, people pour new wine into new wineskins. Then both are saved.’

Jesus heals a dead girl and a suffering woman

18 While Jesus was saying this, a synagogue leader came. He got down on his knees in front of Jesus. He said, ‘My daughter has just died. But come and place your hand on her. Then she will live again.’ 19 Jesus got up and went with him. So did his disciples. 20 Just then a woman came up behind Jesus. She had an illness that made her bleed. It had lasted for 12 years. She touched the edge of his clothes. 21 She thought, ‘I only need to touch his clothes. Then I will be healed.’ 22 Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Dear woman, don’t give up hope,’ he said. ‘Your faith has healed you.’ The woman was healed at that moment. 23 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house, he saw the noisy crowd and people playing flutes. 24 He said, ‘Go away. The girl is not dead. She is sleeping.’ But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been sent outside, Jesus went in. He took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News about what Jesus had done spread all over that area.

Jesus heals two blind men

27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him. They called out, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David!’ 28 When Jesus went indoors, the blind men came to him. He asked them, ‘Do you believe that I can do this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ they replied. 29 Then he touched their eyes. He said, ‘It will happen to you just as you believed.’ 30 They could now see again. Jesus strongly warned them, ‘Be sure that no one knows about this.’ 31 But they went out and spread the news. They talked about him all over that area. 32 While they were going out, another man was brought to Jesus. A demon controlled him, and he could not speak. 33 When the demon was driven out, the man spoke. The crowd was amazed. They said, ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.’ 34 But the Pharisees said, ‘He drives out demons by the power of the prince of demons.’

There are only a few workers

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages. He taught in their synagogues. He preached the good news of the kingdom. And he healed every illness and disease. 36 When he saw the crowds, he felt deep concern for them. They were treated badly and were helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is huge. But there are only a few workers. 38 So ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers out into his harvest field.’

English Standard Version

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing* their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Jesus Calls Matthew

9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 10 And as Jesus* reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

A Question About Fasting

14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast,* but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly* the woman was made well. 23 And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

Jesus Heals a Man Unable to Speak

32 As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”

The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Matthäus 9 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version