1. Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to listen to Jesus speak, and the religious leaders began to grumble saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them!"
2. So Jesus related a parable to them saying, "What man among you if he had a hundred sheep and one had gone astray, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture on the hillsides and go into the valley to search for the one that was lost?
3. "When he finds the sheep, he is overjoyed, and tells all his friends that he has finally found his lost sheep. And to that sheep he says, 'I love you more than the ninety-nine.'
4. "I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
5. "Or what woman, if she has ten gold coins, and loses one, does not light all her lamps and search the house carefully until she finds it? When she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my gold coin which was lost!'
6. "In the same way, I tell you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
7. Then Jesus gave this parable, "A man had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the inheritance that is mine.' So, he divided his wealth between his two sons.
8. "Not long after, the younger son gathered his possessions and went on a journey to a distant country, and there he wasted his entire estate on loose living.
9. "After he had spent all his wealth, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to starve.
10. "So, he begged for a job from one of the citizens of that country and they sent him to work feeding the pigs. But the wages were nearly nothing, and even the swine were eating better then he.
11. "One day, while working, he realized, 'My father's workers have more than enough to eat while I am dying here with hunger.
12. 'I will go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, I am no longer worthy to be called your son, but make me as one of your hired men, and that will be enough.'
13. "So, he got up and journeyed back to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father spotted him and felt love for him, and ran up and embraced him.
14. "And the son said to his father, 'Father, I have sinned against you, I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
15. "But his father shouted to his servants, 'Quickly, bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and good shoes on his feet, and bring out the best meat to cook; for tonight we are having a great feast and celebration!
16. 'For this child of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and now is found!' And they began to celebrate.
17. "Now, his older son was in the fields, and when he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
18. "And a servant said to him, 'Your brother has come home and your father has made a feast and a celebration, because he has received him back safe and sound.'
19. "But the older son was angry and refused to go in and join the celebration. So, his father came out and pleaded with him to come in.
20. "The older son answered his father, 'For many years I have been serving you and never ignored one of your commands, and yet you have never given me anything so that I might have a celebration with my friends.
21. 'But when this child of yours comes home, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes and wine, you have a great celebration.'
22. "The father said, 'This is true, but you have been with me always, and all that is mine has always been yours; we have to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live; he was lost, but now he is found.'"
23. Then Jesus said to them, "What do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said 'Son, go work in the vineyard today,' and the son rebelled saying, 'I will not!' But later he felt guilty and went and worked in the vineyard.
24. "The other son said, 'I will go and work in the vineyard,' but then did not ever go. Which one did the will of the father?"
25. The disciples answered, "The first."
26. And Jesus said, "The kingdom of God will be filled with such."
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