The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 All^(A) the tax collectors^(B) and sinners were approaching to listen to Him. ² And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners^(C) and eats with them!”

³ So He told them this parable:^{(D) 4} “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? ⁵ When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, ⁶ and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ ⁷ 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.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

⁸ “Or what woman who has 10 silver coins,^[b] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ When she finds it, she calls her women friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!’ ¹⁰ I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels^(G) over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Lost Son

¹¹ He also said: “A man had two sons. ¹² The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets^[c] to them. ¹³ Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered^(H) his estate in foolish living.^{(I) 14} After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing.^{[d] 15} Then he went to work for^[e] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.^{(J) 16} He longed to eat his fill from^[f] the carob pods^[g] the pigs were eating, but no one would give him any. ¹⁷ When he came to his senses,^[h] he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger!^{[i] 18} I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned^(K) against heaven^(L) and in your sight. ¹⁹ I’m no longer worthy^(M) to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired hands.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion.^(N) He ran, threw his arms around his neck,^[j] and kissed^(O) him. ²¹ The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father told his slaves, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe^(P) and put it on him; put a ring^(Q) on his finger^[k] and sandals^(R) on his feet. ²³ Then bring the fattened calf^(S) and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, ²⁴ because this son of mine was dead and is alive again;^(T) he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

²⁵ “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he summoned one of the servants and asked what these things meant. ²⁷ ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’^[l]

²⁸ “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets^[m] with prostitutes,^(U) you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’

³¹ “‘Son,’^[n] he said to him, ‘you are always with me,^(V) and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

The Whole World Guilty before God

⁹ What then? Are we any better?^[a] Not at all! For we have previously charged that both Jews^(A) and Gentiles^[b](B) are all under sin,^{[c](C) 10} as it is written:^[d]

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says^(J) speaks to those who are subject to the law,^[k](K) so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.^{[l](L) 20} For no one will be justified^[m] in His sight by the works of the law,^(M) because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.^(N)

God’s Righteousness through Faith

²¹ But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed^(O)—attested by the Law and the Prophets^{[n](P) 22} —that is, God’s righteousness through faith^(Q) in Jesus Christ,^[o](R) to all who believe,^(S) since there is no distinction.^{(T) 23} For all have sinned^(U) and fall short of the^[p] glory of God. ²⁴ They are justified freely by His grace^(V) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.^{(W) 25} God presented Him as a propitiation^[q](X) through faith in His blood,^(Y) to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God^(Z) passed over the sins previously committed.^{(AA) 26} God presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous^[r] the one who has faith in Jesus.