Luke 15:1-32

THE HOLY BIBLE

The Gospel According to Luke Chapter 15:1-32

 

Luke 15:1 The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him,

 

Luke 15:2 but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

 

Luke 15:3 So to them he addressed this parable.

 

Luke 15:4 "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?

 

Luke 15:5 And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy

 

Luke 15:6 and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'

 

Luke 15:7 I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

 

Luke 15:8 "Or what woman having ten coins  and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it?

 

Luke 15:9 And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.'

 

Luke 15:10 In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

 

Luke 15:11 Then he said, "A man had two sons,

 

Luke 15:12 and the younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them.

 

Luke 15:13 After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.

 

Luke 15:14 When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need.

 

Luke 15:15 So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.

 

Luke 15:16 And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.

 

Luke 15:17 Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger.

 

Luke 15:18 I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

 

Luke 15:19 I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."'

 

Luke 15:20 So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.

 

Luke 15:21 His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.'

 

Luke 15:22 But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

 

Luke 15:23 Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast,

 

Luke 15:24 because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began.

 

Luke 15:25 Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.

 

Luke 15:26 He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.

 

Luke 15:27 The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'

 

Luke 15:28 He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him.

 

Luke 15:29 He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.

 

Luke 15:30 But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.'

 

Luke 15:31 He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours.

 

Luke 15:32 But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'"