19. When they could not find a way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his bed into their midst before Jesus.
20. When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
21. The scribes and the Pharisees began to question, “Who is He who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
22. When Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered them, “Why question in your hearts?
23. Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’?
24. But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He said to the paralyzed man, “I say to you, rise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
25. Immediately he rose before them, and took up that on which he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
26. They were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen wonderful things today.”
27. After these things He went out and saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting at the tax collector’s station. He said to him, “Follow Me.”
28. And he left everything, rose up, and followed Him.
29. Then Levi made Him a great feast in his house. And there was a group of many tax collectors and others who sat down with them.
30. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”