1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. |
2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." |
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: |
4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? |
5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders |
6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' |
7 I 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. |
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, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' |
10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." |
11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. |
12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. |
13 "Not 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. |
14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. |
15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. |
16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. |
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! |
18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. |
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' |
20 So he got up and went to his father. "But 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. |
21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' |
22 "But the father said to 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's have a feast and celebrate. |
24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. |
25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. |
26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. |
27 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' |
28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. |
29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've 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. |
30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' |
31 "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. |
32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" |