Luke 15:1-10

Listen to Luke 15:1-10

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

1 Now 1the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and the scribes 2grumbled, saying, 3“This man receives sinners and 4eats with them. ”
3 So he told them this parable:
4 5“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, 6if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine 7in the open country, and 8go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, 9he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for 10I have found my sheep that was lost. ’
7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who 11repents than over ninety-nine 12righteous persons who need no repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, [a] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?
9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost. ’
10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before 13the angels of God over one sinner who repents. ”

Cross References 13

  • 1. 15:1 See Matt. 11:19
  • 2. 15:2 ch. 19:7; [Ex. 16:2, 7, 8; Num. 14:2; Josh. 9:18]
  • 3. 15:2 [ch. 7:39]
  • 4. 15:2 ch. 5:30; Matt. 9:11; 11:19; Mark 2:16; [Acts 11:3; 1 Cor. 5:11; Gal. 2:12]
  • 5. 15:4 For ver. 4-7, [Matt. 18:12-14]
  • 6. 15:4 Ezek. 34:6; [1 Pet. 2:25]
  • 7. 15:4 [Ex. 3:1; 1 Sam. 17:28]
  • 8. 15:4 Ezek. 34:4, 11, 12, 16; [ch. 19:10]
  • 9. 15:5 [Isa. 40:11; 49:22; 60:4; 66:12]
  • 10. 15:6 1 Pet. 2:25
  • 11. 15:7 ver. 10; See ch. 5:32
  • 12. 15:7 [ch. 5:32; Matt. 9:13]
  • 13. 15:10 See ch. 12:8

Footnotes 1

  • [a] 15:8 Greek 'ten drachmas'; a 'drachma' was a Greek coin approximately equal in value to a Roman 'denarius', worth about a day’s wage for a laborer
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025