1After a few days he came back to Capernaum. People soon heard that he was at home. 2Many came together right away. The house was full. There was no more room, not even outside near the door. Jesus was telling them Gods message. 3Four men brought a sick man to Jesus. The man could not move his arms or legs. 4But they could not get in the house where Jesus was, because there were so many people. So they went up on the roof. They made a hole in the roof. Then they let down the mat with the sick man on it. 5Jesus saw that they believed he would be healed. So he said to the sick man, Son, the wrong things you have done are forgiven. 6Some of the scribes were sitting there. 7They were thinking, Why does this man say such wrong things against God? He is not giving God respect! Who can forgive the wrong things people do? No one but God can do that. 8Jesus understood in his spirit what the scribes were thinking. He said right away, Why do you think these wrong things in your hearts? 9Which is easier, to say to the sick man, "The wrong things you have done are forgiven," or to say, "Get up. Take up your mat and walk"? 10I want you to know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive the wrong things people do. So he said to the sick man, 11I tell you, get up! Take up your mat and go home. 12Right away the man stood up in front of them. He took up his mat and went home. They were all very much surprised, and they praised God. They said, We have never seen anything like this before. 13Jesus went out again by the seaside. Many people came to him. So he taught them. 14As he went along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus. He was sitting at the place where people come to pay taxes. Jesus said to him, Come with me. Levi stood up and went with him. 15Jesus was eating in Levis house. Many tax collectors and bad people also came. They sat down to eat with Jesus and his disciples. There were many who went with him. 16The scribes and Pharisees saw that Jesus ate with these people. They said to the disciples, Why does he eat and drink with bad people? 17Jesus heard it. He said to them, People who are well do not need a doctor. But sick people need him. I did not come to call good people. I came to call bad people to stop doing wrong things. 18Johns disciples and the Pharisees disciples were fasting