New Testament in a Year

A Lost Sheep, a Lost Coin^(A)

15 The tax collectors [^Cwho were despised because they worked for the Roman rulers and were notorious for corruption and extortion] and sinners all ·came [drew near] to listen to Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the ·teachers of the law [scribes] began to ·complain [murmur; grumble]: “Look, this man ·welcomes [associates with; receives] sinners and even eats with them [^Cindicating social acceptance].”

³ ·Then [So] Jesus told them this ·story [parable]: ⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep but loses one of them. ·Then he will [^LWon’t he…?] leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the ·open field [wilderness; desert] and go out and look for the lost sheep until he finds it. ⁵ And when he finds it, he ·happily [joyfully] puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. He calls ·to [together] his friends and neighbors and says, ‘·Be happy [Rejoice] with me because I found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ In the same way, I tell you there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who ·changes his heart and life [repents], than over ninety-nine ·good [righteous; ^Cself-righteous] people who don’t need to ·change [repent].

⁸ “[^LOr] Suppose a woman has ten silver coins [^CGreek: drachmas; each equal to about a day’s wage], but loses one. ·She will [Won’t she…?] light a lamp, sweep the house, and ·look [search] carefully for the coin until she finds it. ⁹ And when she finds it, she will call her friends and neighbors and say, ‘·Be happy [Rejoice] with me because I have found the ·coin [^Ldrachma] that I lost.’ ¹⁰ In the same way, [^LI tell you] there is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner ·changes his heart and life [repents].”