15:1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 1 , Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.
15:2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such despicable people--even eating with them!
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 2 , This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such despicable people--even eating with them!
15:3 So Jesus used this illustration:
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 3 , So Jesus used this illustration:
15:4 'If you had one hundred sheep, and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it?
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 4 , 'If you had one hundred sheep, and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it?
15:5 And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders.
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 5 , And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders.
15:6 When you arrived, you would call together your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found.
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 6 , When you arrived, you would call together your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found.
15:7 In the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 7 , In the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!
15:8 'Or suppose a woman has ten valuable silver coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and look in every corner of the house and sweep every nook and cranny until she finds it?
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 8 , 'Or suppose a woman has ten valuable silver coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and look in every corner of the house and sweep every nook and cranny until she finds it?
15:9 And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her because she has found her lost coin.
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 9 , And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her because she has found her lost coin.
15:10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents.'
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 10 , In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents.'
15:11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: 'A man had two sons.
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 11 , To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: 'A man had two sons.
15:12 The younger son told his father, `I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until you die.' So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 12 , The younger son told his father, `I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until you die.' So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
15:13 'A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money on wild living.
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 13 , 'A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money on wild living.
15:14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 14 , About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.
15:15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him to feed his pigs.
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 15 , He persuaded a local farmer to hire him to feed his pigs.
15:16 The boy became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 16 , The boy became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
15:17 'When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, `At home even the hired men have food enough to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger!
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 17 , 'When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, `At home even the hired men have food enough to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger!
15:18 I will go home to my father and say, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 18 , I will go home to my father and say, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,
15:19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired man.' '
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 19 , and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired man.' '
15:20 'So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 20 , 'So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
15:21 His son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.'
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 21 , His son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.'
15:22 'But his father said to the servants, `Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet.
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 22 , 'But his father said to the servants, `Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet.
15:23 And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast,
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 23 , And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast,
15:24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began.
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 24 , for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began.
15:25 'Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house,
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 25 , 'Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house,
15:26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on.
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 26 , and he asked one of the servants what was going on.
15:27 `Your brother is back,' he was told, `and your father has killed the calf we were fattening and has prepared a great feast. We are celebrating because of his safe return.'
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 27 , `Your brother is back,' he was told, `and your father has killed the calf we were fattening and has prepared a great feast. We are celebrating because of his safe return.'
15:28 'The older brother was angry and wouldn't go in. His father came out and begged him,
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 28 , 'The older brother was angry and wouldn't go in. His father came out and begged him,
15:29 but he replied, `All these years I've worked hard for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 29 , but he replied, `All these years I've worked hard for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.
15:30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have.'
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 30 , Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have.'
15:31 'His father said to him, `Look, dear son, you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours.
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 31 , 'His father said to him, `Look, dear son, you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours.
15:32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!' '
The NLT Book of Luke , Chapter 15 , Verse 32 , We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!' '
