¹² Then ^(A)tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

²⁹ And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors ^[a]justified God, ^(A)having been baptized with the baptism of John.

¹³ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

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.”

³¹ Which of the two did the will of his father?”

They said to Him, “The first.”

Jesus said to them, ^(A)“Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. ³² For ^(B)John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; ^(C)but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward ^[a]relent and believe him.