Luke 15

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all coming close to listen to Jesus.

2 But the Pharisees and scribes were talking under their breath, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 So He told them this parable:

4 “If one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one, does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the one that is lost until he finds it,

5 And when he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 Then he comes home, calls his friends and neighbors together, and says, ‘Celebrate with me, I found my lost sheep.’

7 I am telling you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need repentance.”

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one, does she not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it,

9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Celebrate with me, I found the coin I lost.’

10 In the same way, I am telling 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, “There was a man who had two sons.

12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the inheritance.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 Not long after that, the younger son gathered everything he had and left for a distant country. There he wasted everything, living reckless.

14 After he spent it all, a severe famine hit that land, and he started struggling.

15 He went and hired himself out to a man in that country, who sent him into the fields to feed pigs.

16 He was so hungry, he wanted to eat what the pigs were eating, but nobody gave him anything.

17 Then he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s workers have more than enough food, and here I am starving,

18 I will get up, go back to my father, and say, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

19 I am not worthy to be called your son, just make me like one of your hired workers.”’

20 So he got up and went back to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, had compassion, ran to him, hugged him, and kissed him.

21 The son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am not worthy to be called your son.’

22 But the father told his servants, ‘Quick, bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us eat and celebrate.

24 This son of mine was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found.’ And they started celebrating.

25 Meanwhile, the older son was out in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.

26 He called one of the servants and asked what was going on.

27 The servant said, ‘Your brother is back, and your father killed the fattened calf because he got him back safe and sound.’

28 The older brother got angry and refused to go in. His father came out and begged him.

29 But he answered, ‘Look, all these years I have been working like a slave for you and never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

30 But when this son of yours comes back, who wasted your money, you kill the fattened calf for him.’

31 The father said, ‘Son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.

32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because your brother was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found.’”