Luke 15:1-20

1All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him.

2And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3So he told them this parable:

4“What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it?

5When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders,

6and 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 over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.

8“Or what woman who has ten silver coins, 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 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 over one sinner who repents.”

11He also said, “A man had two sons.

12The 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 to them.

13Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living.

14After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing.

15Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

16He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything.

17When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers 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 against heaven and in your sight.

19I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’

20So 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. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.