The Gospel According to St. Luke

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 15 -

(Matthew 18:10–14)

Then resorted vnto him all the Publicanes and sinners, to heare him.

Therefore the Pharises and Scribes murmured, saying, Hee receiueth sinners, and eateth with them.

Then spake hee this parable to them, saying,

What man of you hauing an hundreth sheepe, if hee lose one of them, doeth not leaue ninetie and nine in the wildernesse, and goe after that which is lost, vntill he finde it?

And when he hath found it, he laieth it on his shoulders with ioye.

And when he commeth home, he calleth together his friendes and neighbours, saying vnto them, Reioyce with mee: for I haue founde my sheepe which was lost.

I say vnto you, that likewise ioy shall be in heauen for one sinner that conuerteth, more then for ninetie and nine iust men, which neede none amendment of life.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

Either what woman hauing ten groates, if she lose one groate, doth not light a candle, and sweepe the house, and seeke diligently till shee finde it?

And when shee hath found it, shee calleth her friendes, and neighbours, saying, Reioyce with me: for I haue found the groate which I had lost.

Likewise I say vnto you, there is ioy in the presence of the Angels of God, for one sinner that conuerteth.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

(Deuteronomy 21:18–21)

He sayde moreouer, A certaine man had two sonnes.

And the yonger of them sayde to his father, Father, giue mee the portion of the goods that falleth to mee. So he deuided vnto them his substance.

So not many daies after, when the yonger sonne had gathered all together, hee tooke his iourney into a farre countrey, and there hee wasted his goods with riotous liuing.

Nowe when hee had spent all, there arose a great dearth throughout that land, and he began to be in necessitie.

Then hee went and claue to a citizen of that conntrey, and hee sent him to his farme, to feede swine.

And hee would faine haue filled his bellie with the huskes, that the swine ate: but no man gaue them him.

Then he came to him selfe, and said, Howe many hired seruaunts at my fathers haue bread ynough, and I die for hunger?

I wil rise and goe to my father, and say vnto him, Father, I haue sinned against heaue, and before thee,

And am no more worthy to be called thy sonne: make me as one of thy hired seruants.

So hee arose and came to his father, and when hee was yet a great way off, his father sawe him, and had compassion, and ranne and fell on his necke, and kissed him.

And the sonne sayde vnto him, Father, I haue sinned against heauen, and before thee, and am no more worthie to be called thy sonne.

Then the father said to his seruaunts, Bring foorth the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feete,

And bring the fat calfe, and kill him, and let vs eate, and be merie:

For this my sonne was dead, and is aliue againe: and he was lost, but he is found. And they began to be merie.

Nowe the elder brother was in the fielde, and when he came and drewe neere to the house, he heard melodie, and dauncing,

And called one of his seruaunts, and asked what those things meant.

And hee sayde vnto him, Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatte calfe, because he hath receiued him safe and sound.

Then he was angry, and would not goe in: therefore came his father out and entreated him.

But he answered and said to his father, Loe, these many yeeres haue I done thee seruice, neither brake I at any time thy commadement, and yet thou neuer gauest mee a kidde that I might make merie with my friends.

But when this thy sonne was come, which hath deuoured thy good with harlots, thou hast for his sake killed the fat calfe.

And he said vnto him, Sonne, thou art euer with me, and al that I haue, is thine. It was meete that we shoulde make merie, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is aliue againe: and hee was lost, but he is found.

(Matthew 18:10–14)

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.

The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”

He told them this parable:

“Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?

When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

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 even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

“Or what woman, if she had ten drachma (a) coins, if she lost one drachma coin, wouldn’t light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it?

When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost!’

Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

(Deuteronomy 21:18–21)

He said, “A certain man had two sons.

The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ So he divided his livelihood between them.

Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.

When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.

He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

He wanted to fill his belly with the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.

But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger!

I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.

I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’

“He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him.

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 servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate;

for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.

“Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

He called one of the servants to him and asked what was going on.

He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’

But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and begged him.

But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.

But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’

“He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”

Footnotes

(a)15:8 A drachma coin was worth about 2 days wages for an agricultural laborer.