5. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.”
6. Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
7. “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
8. Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
9. Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?
10. But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”—
11. he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”
12. He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”
13. Once again he went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them.
14. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.
15. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him.
16. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”