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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 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.
12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my
share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between
them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together
all he had, set off for a distant country and there
squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent
everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country,
and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself
out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields
to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods
that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of
my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am
starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back 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; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got
up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long
way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion
for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and
kissed him.
21 “The 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 servants, ‘Quick! 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’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of
mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’
So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he
came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he
called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has
killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and
sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go
in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he
answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been
slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you
never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my
friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered
your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the
fattened calf for him!’
31 “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with
me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to
celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was
dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ” |
Cults 
Why Did God Permit Sin?
