Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

As the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, Jesus stood by the lake of Gennesaret. He saw two ships standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He entered one of Simon's boats and asked him to push out a little from the land, then sat down and taught the people from the boat.

When he had finished speaking, Jesus said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." Simon replied, "Master, we've labored all night and caught nothing; yet at your word I will let down the net." When they had done this, they enclosed a great multitude of fish, and their nets were breaking. They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, who came and filled both vessels.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, Lord." For he was astonished, and all who were with him, at the massive catch of fish they had taken. And so were also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Fear not; from henceforth you will be catching people."

When they had brought their ships to land, they left everything and followed him. As Jesus was in a certain city, a man full of leprosy saw him and fell on his face, beseeching him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." He put forth his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy departed from him. He charged him to tell no one, but go and show himself to the priest, offering for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.

<span class="jesus-words">But</span> so much the more went abroad the report concerning him, and great multitudes came together to hear and be healed of their infirmities. Jesus withdrew himself into the wilderness and prayed. On a certain day, as he was teaching, there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who had come from every town in Galilee, Judaea, and Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

Men brought in on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they sought to bring him near Jesus. When they couldn't find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up onto the roof and lowered him through the tiles with his bed into the middle before Jesus. And seeing their faith, he said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." The scribes and Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?" Whether is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven you, or to say, Rise up and walk? But immediately he rose up before them, took up the mat on which he had been lying, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. They were all amazed, and they glorified God, filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today."

After these things, Jesus went out and saw Levi, a tax collector, sitting at his post of duty, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he left all, rose up, and followed him. Levi hosted a grand feast in his own home: there was a large gathering of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against Jesus' disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"

<span class="jesus-words">Jesus replied, "Those who are well don't need a doctor; those who are sick do."</span> I came to call sinners, not those who consider themselves righteous, but rather that they might turn from their sins. They said to him, "Why do John's disciples often fast and pray, but yours eat and drink?" Can you make the children of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.

And Jesus spoke also a parable to them: no one puts new cloth on an old garment; if otherwise, then both the new makes a tear, and the piece taken from the new does not match with the old. And no one pours new wine into old containers, lest the new wine burst the containers and be spilled, and the containers perish. New wine must be put into new containers, and both will be preserved.

No one having drunk old wine immediately desires new; for he says, "The old is better."