Luke 15 of the New International Version (NIV) contains three parables told by Jesus in response to criticism from the Pharisees and teachers of the law who were muttering about him welcoming and eating with tax collectors and sinners.
- The Parable of the Lost Sheep: Jesus tells of a shepherd who leaves his ninety-nine sheep to find one that is lost, and rejoices greatly when he finds it. Jesus states that in the same way, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
- The Parable of the Lost Coin: Jesus then tells of a woman who loses one of her ten silver coins (drachmas, each worth about a day’s wages). She lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches carefully until she finds it. Upon finding it, she calls her friends and neighbours to rejoice with her. Jesus concludes that in the same way, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
- The Parable of the Lost Son (also known as the Prodigal Son): Jesus narrates the story of a man with two sons. The younger son asks for his share of the estate, leaves for a distant country, and squanders his wealth in wild living. When a severe famine hits, he becomes needy and is forced to feed pigs, longing for their food. Coming to his senses, he decides to return to his father and ask to be made like one of his hired servants, acknowledging his sin against heaven and his father. While he is still a long way off, his father sees him, is filled with compassion, runs to him, embraces him, and kisses him. Despite the son's confession, the father orders his servants to bring the best robe, a ring, and sandals for him, and to prepare a celebratory feast with the fattened calf, declaring that his lost son was dead and is alive again. The older son, who was in the field, becomes angry and refuses to go in upon hearing the music and dancing. He reminds his father of his years of faithful service without even a young goat for a celebration with his friends, contrasting this with the welcome given to the younger son who squandered his property with prostitutes. The father responds by acknowledging the older son’s constant presence and that everything he has is his, but insists on the need to celebrate the return of his lost brother who was dead and is alive again.
The chapter as a whole emphasizes God's joy and the rejoicing in heaven over the repentance of even one sinner.
