Luke 15 :: New King James Version (NKJV)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son

(Matt. 18:10–14 )

Luk 15:1

Luk 15:1Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.

Luk 15:2

Luk 15:2And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Luk 15:3

Luk 15:3So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

Luk 15:4

Luk 15:4“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost 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 comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

Luk 15:7

Luk 15:7“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

Luk 15:8

Luk 15:8“Or what woman, having ten silver coins,[fn] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?

Luk 15:9

Luk 15:9“And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’

Luk 15:10

Luk 15:10“Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Lost Son

Luk 15:11

Luk 15:11Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.

Luk 15:12

Luk 15:12“And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.

Luk 15:13

Luk 15:13“And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

Luk 15:14

Luk 15:14“But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.

Luk 15:15

Luk 15:15“Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

Luk 15:16

Luk 15:16“And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

Luk 15:17

Luk 15:17“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

Luk 15:18

Luk 15:18‘I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,

Luk 15:19

Luk 15:19“and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

Luk 15:20

Luk 15:20“And he arose and came to his father. But 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.

Luk 15:21

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

Luk 15:22

Luk 15:22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring[fn] out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

Luk 15:23

Luk 15:23‘And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;

Luk 15:24

Luk 15:24‘for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

Luk 15:25

Luk 15:25“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

Luk 15:26

Luk 15:26“So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

Luk 15:27

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

Luk 15:28

Luk 15:28“But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

Luk 15:29

Luk 15:29“So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.

Luk 15:30

Luk 15:30‘But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

Luk 15:31

Luk 15:31“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

Luk 15:32

Luk 15:32‘It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

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

NKJV Footnotes

(15:8)

Greek drachma, a valuable coin often worn in a ten-piece garland by married women

(15:22)

NU-Text reads Quickly bring.

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