The Lost Sheep

1Now all the tax collectors and [a]sinners were coming near [b]Jesus to listen to Him. 2And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to complain, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3And so He told them this parable, saying, 4“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the other ninety-nine in the [c]open pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5And when he has found it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!’ 7I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

The Lost Coin

8“Or what woman, if she has ten [d]silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin which I had lost!’ 10In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Prodigal Son

11And He said, “A man had two sons. 12The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that [e]is coming to me.’ And so he divided his [f]wealth between them. 13And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his estate in [g]wild living. 14Now when he had [h]spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began doing without. 15So he went and [i]hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16And he longed to have his fill of the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving him anything. 17But when he came to [j]his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired laborers have more than enough bread, but I am dying here [k]from hunger! 18I will set out and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and [l]in your sight; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired laborers.”’ 20So he set out and came to [m]his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and [n]embraced him and kissed him. 21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and [o]in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and [p]put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet; 23and bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let’s eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25“Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never [q]neglected a command of yours; and yet you never gave me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your [r]wealth with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ 31And he said to him, ‘Son, you [s]have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”