2 ARST So, very many people assembled there.{ There were so many of them} that there was no room for them inside the house or even outside the door. Jesus preached the good news to them. BSB BSB: they gathered in such large numbers that there was no more room, not even outside the door, as Jesus spoke the word to them.
3 ARST Then some people arrived{ at the house} where Jesus was. Four of them were carrying a man who could not move. BSB BSB: Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men.
4 ARST However, because of how many people were there, they could not carry the man close to Jesus. So, they went up on the flat roof of the house and dug a hole through it. Then, they lowered the man down as he was lying on his sleeping pad. BSB BSB: Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.
6 ARST Now some teachers of the Jewish law were there. They were thinking to themselves, BSB BSB: But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking in their hearts,
7 ARST “This man should not be saying that{ he forgives sins}. The only one who can forgive sins is God. So, he is insulting God!” BSB BSB: “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 ARST As soon as{ they thought that}, Jesus realized what they were thinking to themselves. He told them,“You should not be thinking to yourselves that{ I cannot forgive sins}. BSB BSB: At once Jesus knew in His spirit that they were thinking this way within themselves. “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?” He asked.
9 ARST You may think that it is easy to claim to forgive this man who cannot move for his sins{, since it is difficult to prove whether this has happened}. Similarly, you may think that it is difficult to tell{ this man who cannot move} to stand up, carry his sleeping pad, and walk around{, since it is easy to prove whether this has happened}. BSB BSB: “Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’?
10 ARST However, I want you to know that God has authorized me, the Son of Man, to forgive people on earth for their sins.” So, he said to the man who could not move, BSB BSB: But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic,
12 ARST Then the man stood up! As soon as{ he did that}, he carried his sleeping pad and left. Everyone saw him{ do those things}, and it impressed all of them. They praised God and declared that they had never seen anything like that before. BSB BSB: And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. As a result, they were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
13 ARST Then Jesus returned to the area next to the Sea of Galilee. A large group of people approached him, and he instructed them. BSB BSB: Once again Jesus went out beside the sea. All the people came to Him, and He taught them there.
14 ARST As Jesus was walking along, he noticed a man whose name was Levi. He was the son of a man whose name was Alphaeus. Levi was sitting in the booth{ where the people came to pay him the taxes that the government required}. Jesus said to him,“Come with me and be my apprentice!” So, Levi stood up and went with him as his apprentice. BSB BSB: As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.
15 ARST Later, Jesus was feasting in Levi’ s home. Many people who collected taxes and other sinful people feasted with Jesus and his apprentices. All these people went with Jesus as his apprentices. BSB BSB: While Jesus was dining at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples—for there were many who followed Him.
16 ARST Then, some Pharisees who taught the Jewish law noticed that Jesus was eating food with sinful people and people who collected taxes. They told Jesus’ apprentices,“He should not be feasting with people who collect taxes and other sinful people.” BSB BSB: When the scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
18 ARST One day, the Pharisees and the apprentices of John the Baptizer were abstaining from eating in order to please God. Meanwhile, some people visited Jesus. They asked him,“The apprentices of John the Baptizer and the apprentices of the Pharisees are abstaining from eating in order to please God. However, your apprentices do not do so. Why not?” BSB BSB: Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting. So people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?”
19 ARST Jesus answered,“The friends of the bridegroom do not abstain from eating while the wedding celebration is still going on. Indeed, they continue to eat as long as the wedding celebration continues. BSB BSB: Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? As long as He is with them, they cannot fast.
20 ARST However, someday the bridegroom will no longer be with his friends. Then they will abstain from eating. BSB BSB: But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
21 ARST People do not attach a piece of unshrunken cloth on old clothing in order to mend a hole. However, suppose{ that they did}.{ When they washed the garment,} the new piece of cloth would shrink and completely rip out of the old clothing. As a result, the hole would become even bigger! BSB BSB: No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, and a worse tear will result.
22 ARST Similarly, people do not put fresh wine into old skin bags{ to store it}. However, suppose{ that they did}. The fresh wine{ would ferment and expand} and tear open the skin bags. That would ruin the wine and the skin bags. So, in contrast, people put fresh wine into new skin bags.” BSB BSB: And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.”
24 ARST So, some Pharisees said to Jesus,“Look! Your apprentices should not be working on a Jewish day of rest. Our law forbids us to do that.” BSB BSB: So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
26 ARST As you know, David entered the sacred tent while Abiathar was the ruling priest. He ate some of the bread that had been on display before God, and he had the men who were with him eat some of it too. He did that even though the law allowed only the priests to eat that bread.” BSB BSB: During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.”
27 ARST Then Jesus told the Pharisees,“God did not create humans because of the Jewish day of rest. Rather, he created the Jewish day of rest because of humans. BSB BSB: Then Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
28 ARST So then, I, the Son of Man, can decide{ what is right for people to do} even during the Jewish day of rest!” BSB BSB: Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”