20. Seeing their faith He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”
21. Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to think: “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone? ”
22. But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus replied to them, “Why are you thinking this in your hearts?
23. Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
24. But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — He told the paralyzed man, “I tell you: Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
25. Immediately he got up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.
26. Then everyone was astounded, and they were giving glory to God. And they were filled with awe and said, “We have seen incredible things today! ”
27. After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me! ”
28. So, leaving everything behind, he got up and began to follow Him.
29. Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for Him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were guests with them.
30. But the Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to His disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners? ”