Luke 15:1-11

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.

2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 Then Jesus told them this parable:

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?

5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders

6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

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.

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?

9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’

10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Lost Son

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.

Cross References

• 1. Luke 5:29
• 2. S Matthew 9:11
• 3. Matthew 13:3
• 4. Psalms 23; Psalms 119:176; Jeremiah 31:10; Ezekiel 34:11-16; Luke 5:32; Luke 19:10
• 5. ver 9
• 6. ver 10
• 7. ver 6
• 8. ver 7
• 9. Matthew 21:28

Footnotes

• [a] Greek "ten drachmas," each worth about a day’s wages