7. Why does this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
8. And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned among themselves, he said unto them,
9. Which is it easier to say to the paralytic, Your sins be forgiven you; or to say, Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?
10. But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins,
11. I say unto you, Arise, and take up your bed, and go your way into your house.
12. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it in this fashion.
13. And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude came unto him, and he taught them.
14. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and said unto him,
15. And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat to eat in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
16. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with tax collectors and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?
17. When Jesus heard it, he said unto them,
18. And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they came and said unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples fast not?
19. And Jesus said unto them,
20. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.