Listener's Audio Bible Devotional Podcast

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: \'They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.\'

As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector\'s booth. \'Follow me,\' Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi\'s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: \'Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?\' On hearing this, Jesus said to them, \'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.\'

As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector\'s booth. \'Follow me,\' Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi\'s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: \'Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?\' On hearing this, Jesus said to them, \'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.\'

\'Why does this fellow talk like that? He\'s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?\' Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, \'Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, \'Your sins are forgiven,\' or to say, \'Get up, take your mat and walk\'? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.\' So he said to the man, \'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.\' He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, \'We have never seen anything like this!\'

\'Why does this fellow talk like that? He\'s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?\' Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, \'Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, \'Your sins are forgiven,\' or to say, \'Get up, take your mat and walk\'? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.\' So he said to the man, \'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.\' He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, \'We have never seen anything like this!\'

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, \'Son, your sins are forgiven.\'

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, \'Son, your sins are forgiven.\'

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ\'s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ\'s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, \'If you are willing, you can make me clean.\' Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. \'I am willing,\' he said. \'Be clean!\' Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: \'See that you don\'t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.\' Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, \'If you are willing, you can make me clean.\' Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. \'I am willing,\' he said. \'Be clean!\' Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: \'See that you don\'t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.\' Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon\'s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon\'s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, \'What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!\' \'Be quiet!\' said Jesus sternly. \'Come out of him!\' The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, \'What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.\'

The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, \'What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!\' \'Be quiet!\' said Jesus sternly. \'Come out of him!\' The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, \'What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.\'