The Parable about the Faithful Shepherd

(Matthew 18:12-14)

1Now all the tax collectors and sinners kept coming to listen to Jesus.a 2But the Pharisees and the scribes kept complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3So he told them this parable:

4“Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. He leaves the 99 in the wilderness and looks for the one that is lost until he finds it, doesn’t he? 5When he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6Then he goes home, calls his friends and neighbors together, and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I’ve found my lost sheep!’ 7In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need to repent.”

The Story of the Diligent Housewife

8“Or suppose a woman has ten coins and loses one of them.b She lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches carefully until she finds it, doesn’t she? 9When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin that I lost!’ 10In the same way, I tell you that there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”

The Story of the Loving Father

11Then Jesusc said, “A man had two sons. 12The younger one told his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So the fatherd divided his property between them. 13A few days later, the younger son gathered everything he owned and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted it alle on wild living. 14After he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went out to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16No one would give him anything, even though he would gladly have filled himself with the husks the pigs were eating.

17“Then he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more food than they can eat, and here I am starving to death! 18I will get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heavenf and you. 19I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore. Treat me like one of your hired men.”’

20“So he got up and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son,g threw his arms around him, and kissed him affectionately. 21Then his son told him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heavenh and you. I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore.’i 22But the father told his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate! 24Because my son was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25“Now the father’sj older son was in the field. As he was coming back to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called to one of the servants and asked what was happening. 27The servantk told him, ‘Your brother has come home, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got him back safely.’

28“Then the older sonl became angry and wouldn’t go into the house.m So his father came out and began to plead with him. 29But he answered his father, ‘Listen! All these years I’ve worked like a slave for you. I’ve never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you’ve never given me so much as a young goat for a festivaln so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But this son of yours spent your money on prostitutes, and when he came back, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

31“His fathero told him, ‘My child, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.’”