The First Disciples are Called

5 So ait was, as the multitude pressed about Him to bhear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He csat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, d“Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught enothing; nevertheless fat Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, g“Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

9 For he and all who were with him were hastonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. iFrom now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, jthey 1forsook all and followed Him.

A Leper is Cleansed

Matt. 8:2–4; Mark 1:40–45

12 kAnd it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of lleprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and 2implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

13 Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” mImmediately the leprosy left him. 14 nAnd He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, ojust as Moses commanded.”

15 However, pthe report went around concerning Him all the more; and qgreat multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.

A Paralytic is Healed

Matt. 9:1–8; Mark 2:1–12

16 rSo He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and sprayed.

17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present 3to heal them. 18 tThen behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst ubefore Jesus.

20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

21 vAnd the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? wWho can forgive sins but God alone?”

22 But when Jesus xperceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning 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 power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, y“I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, zglorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they aglorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”

Matthew is Called

Matt. 9:9; Mark 2:13, 14

27 bAfter these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, c “Follow Me.” 28 So he left all, rose up, and dfollowed Him.

Jesus Eats with Sinners

Matt. 9:10–13; Mark 2:15–17

29 eThen Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And fthere were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. 30 4And their scribes and the Pharisees 5complained against His disciples, saying, g“Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 hI have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Jesus Teaches About Fasting

Matt. 9:14, 15; Mark 2:18–20

33 Then they said to Him, i“Why 6do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?”

34 And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the jbridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”

Parable of the Cloth and Wineskins

Matt. 9:16, 17; Mark 2:21, 22

36 kThen He spoke a parable to them: “No one 7puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into new wineskins, 8and both are preserved. 39 And no one, having drunk old wine, 9immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is 1better.’ ”