The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, โThis man welcomes sinners and eats with them.โ
3Then Jesus told them this parable:4โSuppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesnโt he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, โRejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.โ 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8โOr suppose a woman has ten silver coins aand loses one. Doesnโt she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, โRejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.โ 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.โ
The Parable of the Lost Son
11Jesus continued: โThere was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, โFather, give me my share of the estate.โ So he divided his property between them.
13โNot long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17โWhen he came to his senses, he said, โHow many of my fatherโs hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.โ 20So he got up and went to his father.
โBut while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21โThe son said to him, โFather, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.โ
22โBut the father said to his servants, โQuick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Letโs have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.โ So they began to celebrate.
25โMeanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27โYour brother has come,โ he replied, โand your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.โ
28โThe older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, โLook! All these years Iโve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!โ
31โโฏโMy son,โ the father said, โyou are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.โโฏโ
Footnotes:
a 8 Greek ten drachmas, each worth about a dayโs wages
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