> [[luke-14|← Previous]] | [[luke-00|TOC]] | [[luke-16|Next →]] --- # Luke, Chapter 15 ## Chapter 15 **The Parable of the Lost Sheep.** 1 The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, ^luke-15-1 2 but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” ^luke-15-2 3 So to them he addressed this parable. ^luke-15-3 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-15-4 5 And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy ^luke-15-5 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-15-6 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-15-7 **The Parable of the Lost Coin.** 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-15-8 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-15-9 10 In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” ^luke-15-10 **The Parable of the Lost Son.** 11 Then he said, “A man had two sons, ^luke-15-11 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-15-13 14 When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. ^luke-15-14 15 So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. ^luke-15-15 16 And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. ^luke-15-16 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-15-17 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-15-18 19 I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ ^luke-15-19 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-15-20 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-15-21 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-15-22 23 Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, ^luke-15-23 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-15-24 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-15-25 26 He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. ^luke-15-26 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-15-27 28 He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. ^luke-15-28 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-15-29 30 But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ ^luke-15-30 31 He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. ^luke-15-31 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.’” ^luke-15-32 \* (15:1] – [32) To the parable of the lost sheep (([[luke-15|Lk 15]]:1] – [7]) that Luke shares with Matthew (([[matthew-18|Mt 18]]:12] – [14]), Luke adds two parables (the lost coin, ([[luke-15|Lk 15]]:8] – [10]; the prodigal son, ([[luke-15|Lk 15]]:11] – [32]) from his own special tradition to illustrate Jesus’ particular concern for the lost and God’s love for the repentant sinner. \* (15:8) Ten coins: literally, “ten drachmas.” A drachma was a Greek silver coin. a. (15:1] – [7) ([[matthew-09|Mt 9]]:10] – [13]. b. (15:2) [5:30]; [19:7]. c. (15:4] – [7) ([[matthew-18|Mt 18]]:12] – [14]. d. (15:4] – [6) [19:10]. e. (15:4) [Ez 34:11] – [12], [16]. f. (15:7) [[ezekiel-18|Ez 18]]:23. g. (15:13) [Prv 29:3]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[luke-14|← Previous]] | [[luke-00|TOC]] | [[luke-16|Next →]]