October 24: Matthew 9-11 (NLT)

Matthew 9.

Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town.

Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat.

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, be encouraged, my child, your sins are forgiven.

But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, that's blasphemy.

Does he think he's God? Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say your sins are forgiven or stand up and walk? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.

Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home.

And the man jumped up and went home.

Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen, and they praised God for giving humans such authority.

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector's booth.

"'Follow me and be my disciple,' Jesus said to him.

So Matthew got up and followed him." Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.

But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, Why does your teacher eat with such scum? When Jesus heard this, he said, Healthy people don't need a doctor.

Sick people do.

Then he added, Now go and learn the meaning of this scripture.

I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.

One day, the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, "'Why don't your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?' Jesus replied, do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not.

But someday the groom will be taken away from them and then they will fast.

Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins.

For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins.

New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.

As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him.

My daughter has just died, he said, but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.

So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him.