11 “I tell you, stand up. Take your mat and go home.”
12 Immediately the paralyzed man stood up. He took his mat and walked out while everyone was watching him.The people were amazed and praised God. They said, “We have never seen anything like this!”
13 Jesus went to the lake again. A crowd followed him there, and he taught them.
14 While he was walking beside the lake, he saw a tax collector named Levi son of Alphaeus. Levi was sitting in the tax office. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And Levi stood up and followed Jesus.
15 Later that day, Jesus ate at Levi’s house. There were many tax collectors and “sinners” eating there with Jesus and his followers. Many people like this followed Jesus.
16 The teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with the tax collectors and “sinners.” They asked his followers, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
17 Jesus heard this and said to them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor. It is the sick who need a doctor. I did not come to invite good people. I came to invite sinners.”