Luke 15
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Parables For Sinners And Pharisees
15 Now all the tax-collectors and the sinners were drawing-near to Him to hear Him. 2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling, saying that “This One is welcoming sinners and eating with them”.
The Lost Sheep And Lost Coin: Heaven Rejoices When a Sinner Repents
3 And He spoke this parable to them, saying 4 “What man from-among you having a hundred sheep and having lost one of them, does not leave-behind the ninety nine in the wilderness and proceed after the one having become-lost until he finds it? 5 And having found it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And having come to the house, he calls-together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice-with me, because I found my lost sheep!’ 7 I say to you that in this manner there will be joy in heaven over one sinner repenting more-than[a] over ninety nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance. 8 Or what woman having ten drachmas[b], if she loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek carefully until which time she finds it ? 9 And having found it, she calls together her women friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice-with me, because I found the drachma which I lost!’ 10 In this manner, I say to you, joy comes-about in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting”.
The Prodigal Son: The Father Rejoices When His Lost Son Returns
11 And He said, “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the part of your substance[c] falling to me’. And the one distributed[d] his property to them. 13 And after not many days, having gathered together everything, the younger son went-on-a-journey to a distant country. And there he squandered his substance living wildly. 14 And he having spent everything, a severe famine came about in relation to that country, and he began to be-in-need. 15 And having gone, he joined himself to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was desiring to be filled-to-satisfaction with the carob-pods which the pigs were eating. And no one was giving anything to him. 17 But having come to himself, he said, ‘How many hired-workers of my father are abounding[e] with bread, but I am perishing[f] here in a famine! 18 Having arisen, I will proceed to my father and say to him, “Father, I sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired-workers”’. 20 And having arisen, he went to his father. But he still being far distant, his father saw him and felt-deep-feelings [of love]. And having run, he fell upon his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son’. 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring-out the best robe and put it on him. And give him a ring for his hand and sandals for the feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf. Slaughter it. And having eaten, let us celebrate! 24 Because this son of mine was dead, and he became-alive-again. He had become-lost, and he was found’. And they began to celebrate.
The Older Brother Is Angered By His Father’s Joy
25 “Now his older son was in the field. And when while coming he drew-near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And having summoned one of the servants, he was inquiring as to what these things might be. 27 And the one said to him that ‘Your brother has come. And your father slaughtered the fatted calf because he received him back being healthy’. 28 And he became-angry, and was not willing to go in. And his father, having come out, was appealing-to him. 29 But the one, having responded, said to his father, ‘Behold— I am slaving for you for so many years, and I never disregarded your command. And you never gave me a goat in order that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came— the one having devoured your property with prostitutes— you slaughtered the fatted calf for him!’ 31 And the one said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and all my things are yours. 32 But it-was-necessary to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead, and he became-alive. And he had become-lost, and he was found’”.
Footnotes
- Luke 15:7 Or, rather-than.
- Luke 15:8 A drachma is a Greek coin equivalent to the Roman denarius. It is one day’s wage for a laborer.
- Luke 15:12 Or, property, estate.
- Luke 15:12 Or, divided. One third went to the younger son; two thirds to the older, Deut 21:17.
- Luke 15:17 Or, having leftovers of.
- Luke 15:17 Or, losing-myself. This is another form of the key word ‘lost’ found in all three parables in chapter 15.
Luke 15
King James Version
15 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Luke 15
New King James Version
The Parable of the Lost Sheep(A)
15 Then (B)all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man [a]receives sinners (C)and eats with them.” 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
4 (D)“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, (E)‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep (F)which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (G)than over ninety-nine [b]just persons who (H)need no repentance.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver [c]coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them (I)his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with [d]prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the [e]pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, (J)I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’
20 “And he arose and came to his father. But (K)when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven (L)and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, [f]‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 (M)for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, (N)for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”
Footnotes
- Luke 15:2 welcomes
- Luke 15:7 upright
- Luke 15:8 Gr. drachma, a valuable coin often worn in a ten-piece garland by married women
- Luke 15:13 wasteful
- Luke 15:16 carob pods
- Luke 15:22 NU Quickly bring
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
