Luke 15 :: Amplified Bible (AMP)

The Lost Sheep

(Mat 18:10–14 )

Now all the tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews] were coming near Jesus to listen to Him.

Luk 15:2Both the Pharisees and the scribes began muttering and complaining, saying, “This man accepts and welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Luk 15:3

So He told them this parable:

Luk 15:4

Luk 15:4“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost, [searching] until he finds it?

Luk 15:5

Luk 15:5“And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

Luk 15:6

Luk 15:6“And when he gets home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’

Luk 15:7

Luk 15:7“I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

The Lost Coin

Luk 15:8

“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins [each one equal to a day’s wages] and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

Luk 15:9

Luk 15:9“And when she has found it, she calls together her [women] friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I found the lost coin!’

Luk 15:10

Luk 15:10“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents [that is, changes his inner self—his old way of thinking, regrets past sins, lives his life in a way that proves repentance; and seeks God’s purpose for his life].”

The Prodigal Son

Luk 15:11

Then He said, “A certain man had two sons.

Luk 15:12

Luk 15:12“The younger of them [inappropriately] said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.’ So he divided the estate between them.

Luk 15:13

Luk 15:13“A few days later, the younger son gathered together everything [that he had] and traveled to a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and immoral living.

Luk 15:14

Luk 15:14“Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to do without and be in need.

Luk 15:15

Luk 15:15“So he went and forced himself on one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to [fn]feed pigs.

Luk 15:16

Luk 15:16“He would have gladly eaten the [carob] pods that the pigs were eating [but they could not satisfy his hunger], and no one was giving anything to him.

Luk 15:17

Luk 15:17“But when he [finally] came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough food, while I am dying here of hunger!

Luk 15:18

Luk 15:18‘I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.

Luk 15:19

Luk 15:19“I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] treat me like one of your hired men.”’

Luk 15:20

Luk 15:20“So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Luk 15:21

Luk 15:21“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

Luk 15:22

Luk 15:22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe [for the guest of honor] and put it on him; and give him a [fn]ring for his hand, and sandals for his feet.

Luk 15:23

Luk 15:23‘And bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let us [invite everyone and] feast and celebrate;

Luk 15:24

Luk 15:24for this son of mine was [as good as] dead and is alive again; he was lost and has been found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Luk 15:25

“Now his older son was in the field; and when he returned and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

Luk 15:26

Luk 15:26“So he summoned one of the servants and began asking what this [celebration] meant.

Luk 15:27

Luk 15:27“And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’

Luk 15:28

Luk 15:28“But the elder brother became angry and deeply resentful and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.

Luk 15:29

Luk 15:29“But he said to his father, ‘Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never neglected or disobeyed your command. Yet you have never given me [so much as] a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;

Luk 15:30

Luk 15:30but when this [other] son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you slaughtered that fattened calf for him!’

Luk 15:31

Luk 15:31“The father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

Luk 15:32

Luk 15:32‘But it was fitting to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was [as good as] dead and has begun to live. He was lost and has been found.’”

See the AMP Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

AMP Footnotes

(15:15)

This would have seemed especially disgusting to Jesus’ Jewish listeners because pigs were ceremonially unclean animals, forbidden to them as food.

(15:22)

I.e. a symbol of his authority as a son.

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