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The Parable of the Lost Sheep and Coin

¹ Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear him. ² But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

³ So Jesus told them this parable: ⁴ "Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it? ⁵ Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.' ⁷ I 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 have no need to repent.

⁸ "Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it? ⁹ Then 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 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents."

The Parable of the Compassionate Father

¹¹ Then Jesus said, "A man had two sons. ¹² The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that will belong to me.' So he divided his assets between them. ¹³ After a few days, the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth with a wild lifestyle. ¹⁴ Then after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and worked for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He was longing to eat the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. ¹⁷ But when he came to his senses he said, ‘How many of my father's hired workers have food enough to spare, but here I am dying from hunger! ¹⁸ I will get up and go to my father and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers."' ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him. ²¹ Then his son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' ²² But the father said to his slaves, ‘Hurry! Bring the best robe, and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet! ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate, ²⁴ because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again—he was lost and is found!' So they began to celebrate.

²⁵ "Now his older son was in the field. As he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the slaves and asked what was happening. ²⁷ The slave replied, ‘Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got his son back safe and sound.' ²⁸ But the older son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and appealed to him, ²⁹ but he answered his father, ‘Look! These many years I have worked like a slave for you, and I never disobeyed your commands. Yet you never gave me even a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends! ³⁰ But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' ³¹ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and everything that belongs to me is yours. ³² It was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.'"