The Tax Collectors & Sinners Draw Close to Jesus to Hear Him |
Luke 15:1-32 The Gospel According to Luke [in Smaller Chunks] |
Then, all the publicans, [a.k.a. tax collectors,] & sinners drew [close] to [Jesus,] to hear Him. And the Pharisees & scribes [grumbled,] saying, This Man receives, [a.k.a. welcomes,] sinners, & [eats] with them. |
*And [Jesus spoke] this parable to them. [Psalm 78:1-4 [Listen,] O My people, to My Law. [Lean] your ears to the Words of My mouth. *I will open My mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old, [that] we have heard & known, & our [forefathers] have told us. We won't hide them from their children, [declaring] the praises of the Lord, His strength, & His wonderful works, [a.k.a.miracles,] He has done, to the generation to come.] |
Saying, [Which] of you [men,] having 100 sheep, [doesn't] leave the 99 [sheep] in the wilderness, if he [loses] 1 of them, & [goes] after [what] is lost, until he [finds] it? |
And when he [comes] home, he [calls] together his friends & neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me. For I have found my sheep [that] was lost. [Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man [has] come to seek & to save, that which was lost.] |
I say to you, that [great] joy shall [also] be in heaven over 1 sinner, [who repents,] more than over 99 just [people, who] need no repentance, [a.k.a. forgiveness.] |
[Or] what woman having 10 pieces of silver, [doesn't] light a candle & sweep the house, if she [loses] 1 piece, & diligently [searches until] she finds it? And when she [has] found it, she [calls] her friends & neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece [that] I had lost. I say to you, There is joy in the presence of [God's] Angels, [like this,] over 1 sinner, [who repents.] |
And [Jesus] said, A certain man had 2 sons. And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that [falls] to me [as an inheritance.] And [the father] divided to them his living, [a.k.a. livelihood or income.] |
And not [long afterwards,] the younger son gathered all [his things] together, & [made] his journey into a [distant] country, & wasted his [wealth] there with riotous living. |
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; & he began to be in [need.] And he went & [attached] himself to a citizen of that country. And [that citizen] sent him into his field to feed swine, [a.k.a. pigs.] |
And he would have [gladly] filled his [stomach] with the husks the [pigs ate:] & no man gave [them] to him. And when he came to himself, [a.k.a. regained his senses,] he said, How many of my father's servants have enough bread & [some] to spare, & I perish with hunger! |
I will arise, & go to my father, & will say to him, Father, I have sinned before you, & against heaven, & am no [longer] worthy to be called your son. Make me [like] one of your hired servants. |
And he arose, & [went] to his father. But when he was [still] a great [distance away,] his father saw him, & had compassion, & ran, & fell on his neck, [a.k.a. threw his arms around him,] & kissed him. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, & in your sight, & am no [longer] worthy to be called your son. |
But the father said to his servants, Bring [out] the best robe, & put it on him. And put a ring on his hand, & shoes on his feet. And bring the [fattened] calf [here,] & kill it. And let's eat & be merry: for this [is] my son, [who] was [considered] dead, & is alive again. He was lost & is found. |
And they began to be merry. Now, his elder son was in the field. And as he came [close] to the house, he heard [music] & dancing. And he called 1 of the servants, & asked what these things meant. And [the servant] said to him, Your brother [has] come. And your father [has] killed the [fattened] calf, because he has received him [back,] safe & sound. |
And he was angry, & wouldn't go in. Therefore, his father came out, & [pleaded] [with] him. And answering his father, he said, [Look,] I [served] you, these many years. Neither [did] I [sin against] your [command] at any time. And [still,] you never [gave] me a kid [goat,] [so] that I make [merriment] with my friends. |
But as soon as this, your son [came who] devoured your living, [a.k.a livelihood, with harlots, you [have] killed the [fattened] calf for him. And he said to him, Son, you [are always] with me, & all that I have is yours. It was [appropriate] that we should [be] merry, & glad. For this, your brother was dead, & is alive again, & was lost, & is found. |
[Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man [has] come to seek & to save that which was lost.] |