Luke 15

The Lost Sheep—Matthew 18:12–14

1 All the tax collectors and sinners came to listen to Jesus.

2 But the Pharisees and the scribes complained, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Jesus spoke to them using this illustration:4 “Suppose a man has 100 sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the 99 sheep grazing in the pasture and look for the lost sheep until he finds it?5 When he finds it, he’s happy. He puts that sheep on his shoulders and6 goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says to them, ‘Let’s celebrate! I’ve found my lost sheep!’

7 I can guarantee that there will be more happiness in heaven over one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts than over 99 people who already have turned to God and have his approval.”

The Lost Coin

8 “Suppose a woman has ten coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house, and look for the coin carefully until she finds it?9 When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Let’s celebrate! I’ve found the coin that I lost.’

10 So I can guarantee that God’s angels are happy about one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts.”

The Lost Son

11 Then Jesus said, “A man had two sons.

12 The younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the property.’ So the father divided his property between his two sons.
13 “After a few days, the younger son gathered his possessions and left for a country far away from home. There he wasted everything he had on a wild lifestyle.14 He had nothing left when a severe famine spread throughout that country. He had nothing to live on.15 So he got a job from someone in that country and was sent to feed pigs in the fields.

16 No one in the country would give him any food, and he was so hungry that he would have eaten what the pigs were eating.
17 “Finally, he came to his senses. He said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more food than they can eat, while I’m starving to death here?18 I’ll go at once to my father, and I’ll say to him, “Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and you.

19 I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore. Make me one of your hired men.” ’
20 “So he went at once to his father. While he was still at a distance, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son, put his arms around him, and kissed him.

21 Then his son said to him, ‘Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and you. I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore.’t
22 “The father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.23 Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s celebrate with a feast.

24 My son was dead and has come back to life. He was lost but has been found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
25 “His older son was in the field. As he was coming back to the house, he heard music and dancing.

26 He called to one of the servants and asked what was happening.
27 “The servant told him, ‘Your brother has come home. So your father has killed the fattened calf to celebrate your brother’s safe return.’28 “Then the older son became angry and wouldn’t go into the house. His father came out and begged him to come in.29 But he answered his father, ‘All these years I’ve worked like a slave for you. I’ve never disobeyed one of your commands. Yet, you’ve never given me so much as a little goat for a celebration with my friends.

30 But this son of yours spent your money on prostitutes, and when he came home, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
31 “His father said to him, ‘My child, you’re always with me. Everything I have is yours.

32 But we have something to celebrate, something to be happy about. This brother of yours was dead but has come back to life. He was lost but has been found.’ ”

Luke 15

One sheep

(Matthew 18.12-14)

1 Tax collectorst and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus.t

2 So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, “This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them.”

3 Then Jesus told them this story:
4 If any of you has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go and look for the lost sheep until you find it? 5 And when you find it, you will be so glad that you will put it on your shoulder

6 and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and say, “Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep.”

7 Jesus said, “In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who don't need to.”

One coin

8 Jesus told the people another story:
What will a woman do if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them? Won't she light a lamp, sweep the floor, and look carefully until she finds it?

9 Then she will call in her friends and neighbours and say, “Let's celebrate! I've found the coin I lost.”

10 Jesus said, “In the same way God's angels are happy when even one person turns to him.”

Two sons

11 Jesus also told them another story:
Once a man had two sons.

12 The younger son said to his father, “Give me my share of the property.” So the father divided his property between his two sons.
13 Not long after that, the younger son packed up everything he owned and left for a foreign country, where he wasted all his money in wild living.

14 He had spent everything, when a bad famine spread through that whole land. Soon he had nothing to eat.
15 He went to work for a man in that country, and the man sent him out to take care of his pigs.t

16 He would have been glad to eat what the pigs were eating,t but no one gave him a thing.
17 Finally, he came to his senses and said, “My father's workers have plenty to eat, and here I am, starving to death! 18 I will go to my father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you.

19 I am no longer good enough to be called your son. Treat me like one of your workers.’ ”

20 The younger son got up and started back to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him.

21 The son said, “Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son.”
22 But his father said to the servants, “Hurry and bring the best clothes and put them on him. Give him a ring for his finger and sandalst for his feet. 23 Get the best calf and prepare it, so we can eat and celebrate.

24 This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found.” And they began to celebrate.
25 The elder son had been out in the field. But when he came near the house, he heard the music and dancing.

26 So he called one of the servants over and asked, “What's going on here?”
27 The servant answered, “Your brother has come home safe and sound, and your father ordered us to kill the best calf.”

28 The elder brother got so angry that he would not even go into the house.
His father came out and begged him to go in. 29 But he said to his father, “For years I have worked for you like a slave and have always obeyed you. But you have never even given me a little goat, so that I could give a dinner for my friends.

30 This other son of yours wasted your money on prostitutes. And now that he has come home, you ordered the best calf to be killed for a feast.”
31 His father replied, “My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we should be glad and celebrate! Your brother was dead, but he is now alive. He was lost and has now been found.”