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LOST!
Luke 15
Why Jesus Told These
Three Parables.
Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him
to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to
grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."
The Lost Sheep.
So He told them this parable, saying, "What man among you, if he
has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the
ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is
lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his
shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together
his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me,
for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I tell you that in
the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner
who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no
repentance.
The Lost Coin.
"Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin,
does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully
until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together
her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have
found the coin which I had lost!' In the same way, I tell you,
there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one
sinner who repents."
The Lost Sons.
And He said, "A man had two sons. The younger of them said to
his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls
to me.' So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days
later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on
a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his
estate with loose living. Now when he had spent everything, a
severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be
impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the
citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to
feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the
pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything
to him. But when he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my
father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying
here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will
say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your
sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as
one of your hired men." So he got up and came to his father. But
while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt
compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And
the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and
in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But
the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe
and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his
feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and
celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life
again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to
celebrate. Now his older son was in the field, and when he came
and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. And he
summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these
things could be. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and
your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received
him back safe and sound.' But he became angry and was not
willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading
with him. But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so
many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a
command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat,
so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of
yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you
killed the fattened calf for him.' And he said to him, 'Son, you
have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we
had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead
and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.' "
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