THE LOST SHEEP, THE LOST COIN, AND THE PRODIGAL SON
[Sidenote: St. Luke 15]
THEN drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth
sinners, and eateth with them.
And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having
an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety
and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he
find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders,
rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends
and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my
sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in
heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine
just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten
pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and
sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she
hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together,
saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of
God over one sinner that repenteth.
And he said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said
to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to
me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the
younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far
country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when
he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he
began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of
that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he
would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat:
and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How
many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and
I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say
unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and
am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired
servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a
great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and
fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father,
I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy
to be called thy son. But 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: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us
eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was
lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the
house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants,
and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother
is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath
received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in:
therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering
said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither
transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest
me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this
thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou
hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou
art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we
should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is
alive again; and was lost, and is found.