Luke 15
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1
Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to
Him to hear Him.
2 And the
Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man
receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So He
spoke this parable to them, saying:
4 “What
man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of
them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness,
and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
5 And
when he has found it, he lays it on his
shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And
when he comes home, he calls together his friends
and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I
have found my sheep which was lost!’
7 I say
to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven
over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just
persons who need no repentance.The Parable of
the Lost Coin
8
“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses
one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and
search carefully until she finds it?
9 And
when she has found it, she calls her
friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with
me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’
10
Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of
the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Parable of the Lost Son
11
Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.
12 And
the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father,
give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’
So he divided to them his livelihood.
13 And
not many days after, the younger son gathered all
together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted
his possessions with prodigal living.
14 But
when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in
that land, and he began to be in want.
15 Then
he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country,
and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he
would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that
the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But
when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my
father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare,
and I perish with hunger!
18 I will
arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father,
I have sinned against heaven and before you,
19 and I
am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like
one of your hired servants.”’
20 “And
he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a
great way off, his father saw him and had compassion,
and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
21 And
the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against
heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be
called your son.’
22 “But
the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best
robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his
hand and sandals on his feet.
23 And
bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let
us eat and be merry;
24 for
this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and
is found.’ And they began to be merry.
25 “Now
his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew
near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 So he
called one of the servants and asked what these things
meant. 27
And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because
he has received him safe and sound, your father has
killed the fatted calf.’
28 “But
he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father
came out and pleaded with him.
29 So he
answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many
years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your
commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a
young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.
30 But as
soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your
livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for
him.’
31 “And
he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all
that I have is yours.
32 It was
right that we should make merry and be glad, for your
brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is
found.’”
