1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. (太11:19)2And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (出16:2; 出16:7; 民14:2; 书9:18; 太9:11; 太11:19; 可2:16; 路5:30; 路7:39; 路19:7; 徒11:3; 林前5:11; 加2:12)3So he told them this parable:4“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? (出3:1; 撒上17:28; 结34:4; 结34:6; 结34:11; 结34:16; 太18:12; 路19:10; 彼前2:25)5And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (赛40:11; 赛49:22; 赛60:4; 赛66:12)6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ (彼前2:25)7Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (太9:13; 路5:32; 路15:10)
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8“Or what woman, having ten silver coins,[1] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?9And 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.’10Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (路12:8)
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
11And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.12And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. (申21:17; 可12:44; 路15:30)13Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. (弗5:18; 多1:6; 彼前4:4)14And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.15So he went and hired himself out to[2] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.16And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. (路16:21)17“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! (王上8:47; 徒12:11)18I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. (出10:16; 太21:25; 约3:27)19I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ (路7:6)20And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. (创33:4; 撒下14:33; 徒20:37; 雅4:8)21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[3] (路15:19)22But the father said to his servants,[4] ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. (创41:42; 斯3:10; 斯8:2; 结16:10; 亚3:3)23And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. (撒上28:24; 路12:19)24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. (路15:32; 羅11:15; 弗2:1; 西2:13; 启3:1)25“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.26And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.27And 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.’28But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,29but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. (路15:23)30But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ (箴29:3; 路15:12)31And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. (约8:35)32It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’” (路15:24; 路15:29)