19. But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus.
20. When he saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.”
21. Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
22. Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, “What are you thinking in your hearts?
23. Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
24. But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
25. He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God.
26. Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today.”
27. After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.”
28. And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.
29. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them.
30. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
31. Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.
32. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”