The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 All(A) the tax collectors(B) and sinners were approaching to listen to Him. And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners(C) and eats with them!”

So He told them this parable:(D) “What man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them,(E) does not leave the 99 in the open field[a] and go after the lost one until he finds it? When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven(F) over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need repentance.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 15:4 Or the wilderness

The Parable of the Lost Sheep(A)

15 Now the tax collectors(B) and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”(C)

Then Jesus told them this parable:(D) “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?(E) And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’(F) 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.(G)

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