5. When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the paralyzed man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”
6. Some of the teachers of the law were sitting there. They saw what Jesus did, and they said to themselves,
7. “Why does this man say things like that? What an insult to God! No one but God can forgive sins.”
8. Jesus knew immediately what these teachers of the law were thinking. So he said to them, “Why do you have these questions in your minds?
11. “I tell you, stand up. Take your mat and go home.”
12. Immediately the paralyzed man stood up. He picked up his mat and walked out of the room. Everyone could see him. They were amazed and praised God. They said, “This is the most amazing thing we have ever seen!”
13. Jesus went to the lake again, and many people followed him there. So Jesus taught them.
14. He was walking beside the lake, and he saw a man named Levi, son of Alphaeus. Levi was sitting at his place for collecting taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Then Levi stood up and followed Jesus.
15. Later that day, Jesus and his followers ate at Levi’s house. There were also many tax collectors and others with bad reputations eating with them. (There were many of these people who followed Jesus.)
16. When some teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with such bad people, they asked his followers, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
17. When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “It is the sick people who need a doctor, not those who are healthy. I did not come to invite good people. I came to invite sinners.”