Luke 15
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1 All a the tax collectors b and sinners were approaching to listen to Him. 2 And the ▼▼Pharisee(s): In Judaism a religious sect that followed the whole written and oral law
Pharisees and ▼▼scribe(s): A professional group in Judaism that copied the law of Moses and interpreted it, especially in legal cases
scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners e and eats with them!” 3 So He told them this parable: f 4 “What man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them, g does not leave the 99 in the open field ▼▼Or the wilderness
and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, 6 and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ 7I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven i over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need repentance. The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or what woman who has 10 silver coins, ▼▼Gk 10 drachmas; a drachma was a silver coin = a denarius
if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9When she finds it, she calls her women friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!’ 10I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels k over one sinner who repents.” The Parable of the Lost Son
11 He also said: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets ▼▼Or living; lit livelihood
to them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered m his estate in foolish living. n 14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. ▼▼Lit and he began to be in need
15 Then he went to work for ▼▼Lit went and joined with
one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. q 16He longed to eat his fill from ▼▼Other mss read to fill his stomach with
the carob pods ▼▼Seed casings of a tree used as food for cattle, pigs, and sometimes the poor
the pigs were eating, but no one would give him any. 17When he came to his senses, ▼▼Lit to himself
he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! ▼ 18I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned v against heaven w and in your sight. 19 I’m no longer worthy x to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired hands.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. y He ran, threw his arms around his neck, ▼▼Lit He ran, fell on his neck
and kissed aa him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father told his ▼▼slave: The strong Greek word doulos cannot be accurately translated in English by "servant" or "bond servant"; the HCSB translates this word as "slave," not out of insensitivity to the legitimate concerns of modern English speakers, but out of a commitment to accurately convey the brutal reality of the Roman empire's inhumane institution as well as the ownership called for by Christ.
slaves, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe ac and put it on him; put a ring ad on his finger ▼▼Lit hand
and sandals af on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf ag and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; ah he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he summoned one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ ▼▼Lit him back healthy
28 “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets ▼▼Lit livelihood, or living
with prostitutes, ak you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ 31 “‘Son,’ ▼▼Or Child
he said to him, ‘you are always with me, am and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
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