Luke 15:1–10

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15:4–7pp—Mt 18:12–14

15Now the tax collectors^s and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ²But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”^t

³Then Jesus told them this parable:^{u 4}“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?^{v 5}And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’^{w 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.^x

The Parable of the Lost Coin

⁸“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins^a and loses one. Doesn’t 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, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’^{y 10}In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”^z