Chapter VII

CHRIST FORGIVING SINS, CALLING LEVI, EATING WITH PUBLICANS AND SINNERS, AND EXPOUNDING THE LAWS OF FASTING AND THE SABBATH.

1 [5:17]AND on one of those days he was teaching, and the Pharisees and teachers of the law were present, having come from every village of Galilee, and of Judea, and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present to cure them. [5:18]And behold, men bringing on a bed a man who was paralytic; and they sought to bring him in to place him before him. [5:19]And not finding how they could bring him in, on account of the multitude, they went up on the house, and let him down through the tiles, with his little bed, into the midst before Jesus. [5:20]And seeing their faith, he said, Man, your sins are forgiven you.

2 [5:21]And the scribes and Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this that speaks blasphemies? who can forgive sins, but God alone? [5:22]And Jesus knowing their thoughts answered and said to them, Why do you reason in your minds? [5:23]in what is it easier to say, Your sins are forgiven you, than to say, Arise and walk? [5:24]But that you may know that the Son of man has power on the earth to forgive sins, he said to the paralytic, I tell you, arise, and take up your little bed, and go to your house. [5:25]And he arose immediately before them, and taking up that on which he had lain departed to his house, glorifying God. [5:26]And all were astonished, and glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to-day.

3 [5:27]And after these things he went out and saw a publican by the name of Levi, sitting at the custom house, and said to him, Follow me. [5:28]And leaving all he arose and followed him. [5:29]And Levi made a great feast for him at his house; and there was a great multitude of publicans and of others who reclined with them. [5:30]And the Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, Why do you eat and drink with publicans? [5:31]And Jesus answered and said to them, The well need not a physician, but the ill. [5:32]I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to a change of mind.

4 [5:33]And they said to him, The disciples of John fast much and make prayers; and likewise those of the Pharisees; but yours eat and drink. [5:34]And he said to them, Can you make the children of the bridechamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? [5:35]But days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them; then shall they fast in those days.

5 [5:36]And he spoke also a parable to them; That no one puts a piece of a new garment on an old garment; if he does, the new both tears the old, and that from the new disagrees with the old. [5:37]And no one puts new wine into old bottles; if he does, the new wine will break the bottles, and itself be poured out, and the bottles be destroyed. [5:38]But new wine must be put into new bottles. [5:39]And no one drinking old wine desires new; for he says the old is good.

6 [6:1]And on the second-first sabbath he went through the grain fields, and his disciples picked the heads and eat, rubbing them in their hands. [6:2]And some of the Pharisees said, Why do you do what is not lawful on the sabbath? [6:3]And Jesus answered and said to them, Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those with him? [6:4]He entered into the house of God, and took the show bread, and eat, and gave to those with him, which it was not lawful for any to eat, except the priests alone. [6:5]And he said to them, The Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath.

7 [6:6]And on another sabbath he went into the synagogue and taught. And there was a man there whose right hand was withered. [6:7]And the scribes and Pharisees watched him [to see] if he would perform a cure on the sabbath, that they might find [something of which] to accuse him. [6:8]But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man having the withered hand, Arise, and stand in the midst. And he arose and stood. [6:9]And Jesus said to them, I will ask you whether it is lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do evil? to save a life or to destroy? [6:10]And looking round upon them all he said to him, Stretch out your hand. And he did so; and his hand was restored. [6:11]And they were filled with madness, and conferred with each other as to what they should do to Jesus.