002:010 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth
to pardon sins"--He turned to the paralytic, and said,
002:011 "To you I say, `Rise, take up your mat and go home.'"
002:012 The man rose, and immediately under the eyes of all took
up his mat and went out, so that they were all filled
with astonishment, gave the glory to God, and said,
"We never saw anything like this."
002:013 Again He went out to the shore of the Lake, and the whole
multitude kept coming to Him, and He taught them.
002:014 And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus
sitting at the Toll Office, and said to him, "Follow me."
So he rose and followed Him.
002:015 When He was sitting at table in Levi's house, a large number
of tax-gatherers and notorious sinners were at table
with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many such who
habitually followed Him.
002:016 But when the Scribes of the Pharisee sect saw Him eating with
the sinners and the tax-gatherers, they said to His disciples,
"He is eating and drinking with the tax-gatherers and sinners!"
002:017 Jesus heard the words, and He said, "It is not the healthy
who require a doctor, but the sick: I did not come to appeal
to the righteous, but to sinners."
002:018 (Now John's disciples and those of the Pharisees were keeping
a fast.) And they came and asked Him, "How is it that
John's disciples and those of the Pharisees are fasting,
and yours are not?"
002:019 "Can a wedding party fast while the bridegroom is among them?"
replied Jesus. "So long as they have the bridegroom with them,
fasting is impossible.
002:020 But a time will come when the Bridegroom will be taken away