Luke 15

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Matt. 18:12-14

1 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near to hear Him. 2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes were murmuring, saying, “This man* receives sinners and eats with them.”

3 So He spoke to them this parable, saying, 4 “What man among you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the one that was lost until he finds it? 5 And having found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And having returned to his home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 I say to you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who have no need of 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 and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And having found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 In the same way, I say to you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

11 He said further, “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that belongs to me.’ As a result, he divided his assets between them. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered up everything and went away to a distant country, and in that place, he recklessly wasted his property, living extravagantly. 14 And after he had expended everything, there was a severe famine throughout that country, and he began to experience destitution. 15 So he went and engaged himself as a labourer to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give anything to him. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have an abundance of bread, and here I am, dying from hunger! 18 When I rise up, I will go to my father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer fit to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 And he rose up and went to his own father. But while he was still a long way distant from home, * his father saw him and was deeply moved by compassion; and he ran and fell upon his neck * and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.’ * 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and clothe him, and give a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf, kill it; and when we have eaten it, let us celebrate, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and has come back to life. He was lost, and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he was coming and came near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things might be. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has arrived, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back in sound health.’ 28 But he became angry and was not willing to enter. Then his father came out and was begging him. 29 But in reply, he said to his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you and have never disregarded your commandment, yet you never gave me a young goat, so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has consumed your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 But he said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and all I have is yours. 32 But it was fitting to celebrate and to rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead, and has come alive; he was lost and has been found.’ ”

Notes

2 The word man is not found in the Greek text but is contextually implied. It is supplied in the translation for clarity regarding the subject

20 The phrase from home is not used in the Greek text but is contextually inferred

20 Or embraced

21 Some ancient manuscripts insert the imperative statement Make me like one of your hired servants at the end of the verse, in order to conform the reading to a parallel in v. 19

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