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15:1  The tax collectors and sinners all came to listen to Jesus.
15:2  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to complain: “Look, this man welcomes sinners and even eats with them.”
15:3  Then Jesus told them this story:
15:4  “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep but loses one of them. Then he will leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the open field and go out and look for the lost sheep until he finds it.
15:5  And when he finds it, he happily puts it on his shoulders
15:6  and goes home. He calls to his friends and neighbors and says, ‘Be happy with me because I found my lost sheep.’
15:7  In the same way, I tell you there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who changes his heart and life, than over ninety-nine good people who don’t need to change.
15:8  “Suppose a woman has ten silver coins, but loses one. She will light a lamp, sweep the house, and look carefully for the coin until she finds it.
15:9  And when she finds it, she will call her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Be happy with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’
15:10  In the same way, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner changes his heart and life.”
15:11  Then Jesus said, “A man had two sons.
15:12  The younger son said to his father, ‘Give me my share of the property.’ So the father divided the property between his two sons.
15:13  Then the younger son gathered up all that was his and traveled far away to another country. There he wasted his money in foolish living.
15:14  After he had spent everything, a time came when there was no food anywhere in the country, and the son was poor and hungry.
15:15  So he got a job with one of the citizens there who sent the son into the fields to feed pigs.
15:16  The son was so hungry that he wanted to eat the pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
15:17  When he realized what he was doing, he thought, ‘All of my father’s servants have plenty of food. But I am here, almost dying with hunger.
15:18  I will leave and return to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you.
15:19  I am no longer worthy to be called your son, but let me be like one of your servants.”’
15:20  So the son left and went to his father. “While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for his son. So the father ran to him and hugged and kissed him.
15:21  The son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
15:22  But the father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring the best clothes and put them on him. Also, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
15:23  And get our fat calf and kill it so we can have a feast and celebrate.
15:24  My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
15:25  “The older son was in the field, and as he came closer to the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.
15:26  So he called to one of the servants and asked what all this meant.
15:27  The servant said, ‘Your brother has come back, and your father killed the fat calf, because your brother came home safely.’
15:28  The older son was angry and would not go in to the feast. So his father went out and begged him to come in.
15:29  But the older son said to his father, ‘I have served you like a slave for many years and have always obeyed your commands. But you never gave me even a young goat to have at a feast with my friends.
15:30  But your other son, who wasted all your money on prostitutes, comes home, and you kill the fat calf for him!’
15:31  The father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
15:32  We had to celebrate and be happy because your brother was dead, but now he is alive. He was lost, but now he is found.’”