Read the Gospels in 40 Days
15 Then all the tax collectors and sinners came to Him, to hear Him.
2 Therefore, the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, “He receives sinners, and eats with them.”
3 Then He spoke this parable to them, saying,
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost until he finds it?
5 “And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders with joy.
6 “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me! For I have found my sheep which was lost!’
7 “I say to you that joy shall likewise be in Heaven for one sinner who converts, more than for ninety-nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance.
8 “Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does not light a candle and sweep the house and seek diligently till she finds it?
9 “And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me! For I have found the coin which I had lost!’
10 “Likewise I say to you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God for one sinner who converts.”
11 He said moreover, “A certain man had two sons.
12 “And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of the goods that falls to me.’ So, he divided his livelihood among them.
13 “So, not many days after, when the younger son had gathered everything together, he took his journey into a far country. And there he wasted his goods with riotous living.
14 “Now, when he had spent everything, there arose a great famine throughout that land. And he began to be in want.
15 “Then he went and kept company with a citizen of that country. And he sent him to his farm to feed swine.
16 “And he would have filled his belly with the husks that the swine ate, but no one gave him any.
17 “Then he came to himself and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have enough bread, and I die for hunger?
18 ‘I will rise and go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before you,
19 “and am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’
20 “So he arose and came to his father. And 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, and before you, and am no more worthy to be called your son.’
22 “Then 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 the fat calf and kill him! And let us eat and be merry!
24 ‘For this my son was dead, and is alive again! And he was lost, but he is found!’ And they began to be merry.
25 “Now the elder brother was in the field. And when he came and drew near to the house, he heard melody and dancing,
26 “And he called one of his servants and asked what those things meant.
27 “And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come. And your father has killed the fat calf because he has received him safe and sound.’
28 “Then he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore, his father came out and implored him.
29 “But he answered, and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have done you service and have always obeyed you! And yet you never gave me a kid that I might make merry with my friends!
30 ‘But when this, your son, had come - who had devoured your goods with harlots - you have killed the fat calf for his sake!’
31 “And he said to him, “Son, you are always with me. And all that I have is yours. It was fitting that we should celebrate and be glad. For this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. And he was lost, but he is found.”
16 And He also said to His disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a steward. And he was accused to him of wasting his goods.
2 “And he called him and said to him, ‘How is it that I hear this of you? Give an account of your stewardship. For you may no longer be steward.’
3 “Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking away the stewardship from me. I cannot dig. And I am ashamed to beg.
4 ‘I know what I will do, so that when I am put out of the stewardship they may receive me into their houses.’
5 “Then he called every one of his master’s debtors to him, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe to my master?’
6 “And he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill. And sit down quickly. And write fifty.’
7 “Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ And he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ Then he said to him, ‘Take your bill and write eighty.’
8 “And the master commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely. For among their own kind, the children of this world are wiser than the children of light.
9 “And I say to you, make friends with the riches of iniquity, so that when you fail, they may receive you into eternal dwellings.
10 “The one who is faithful in the least, is also faithful in much. And the one who is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much.
11 “If, then, you have not been faithful in the riches of iniquity, who will trust you in the true treasure?
12 “And if you have not been faithful in another man’s goods, who shall give you that which is yours?
13 “No servant can serve two masters. For either he shall hate the one and love the other, or else he shall lean to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and riches.”
14 The Pharisees also heard all these things and were covetous. And they scoffed at Him.
15 Then He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before man. But God knows your hearts. For that which is highly esteemed among man is abomination in the sight of God.
16 “The Law and the Prophets endured until John. And since that time the Kingdom of God is preached. And everyone presses into it.
17 “Now it is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass away than for one stroke of the Law to fall.
18 “Whoever puts away his wife and marries another, commits adultery. And whoever marries the one who is put away from her husband, commits adultery.
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared well and delicately every day.
20 “Also, there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate (full of sores).
21 “And he desired to be refreshed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. And even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “And it happened that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 “And being in torment in Hell, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off (and Lazarus in his bosom).
24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me! And send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue! For I am tormented in this flame!’
25 “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your pleasures, and likewise Lazarus pains. Therefore, now he is comforted and you are tormented.
26 ‘Besides all this, there is a great gulf set between you and us, so that those who wish to go from here to you, cannot. Nor can anyone come from there to us.’
27 “Then he said, ‘Therefore I ask you, father, if you would send him to my father’s house,
28 ‘(for I have five brothers) so that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. Let them hear them.’
30 “And he said, ‘No, father Abraham. But if one came to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 “Then he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded if one rises from the dead again.’”
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