LUKE XV-THE LOST SHEEP

Chapter 15

1 The parable of the lost sheep: & of the piece of silver: 11 of the prodigal son.

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HEN drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him,

2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This

man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

3 ¶ And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

4 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?

5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 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.

7 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.

8 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?

9 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.

10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 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. 13 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.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 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!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet

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LUKE XV THE PRODIGAL SON

a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 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. 22 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: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

27 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. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.

29 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.

30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

32 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.

Chapter 16

1 The parable of the unjust steward. 14 Christ reproveth the hypocrisy of the covetous Pharisees. glutton, and Lazarus the beggar.

19 The rich

ND he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

"Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole”

BY EDWARD ARMITAGE, R.A., AN ENGLISH ARTIST, DIED 1896

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"For she said, if I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole."-Mark, 5, 28.

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HE peoples of the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee seem to have been terrified by Jesus' power rather than attracted to Him. After he had driven their swine into the sea, they gathered round Him in great numbers and entreated Him to leave them. Taking ship again, He returned to His own region of Galilee, where a priest, Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, met Him with a prayer for his daughter, who was dying.

On the way to the home of Jairus, Jesus could scarce force a way through the eager welcoming multitude. A woman afflicted by a disease regarded by the Jews as peculiarly unclean, approached Him in the throng. She did not dare proclaim her need, but only reached out to touch His garment. At once he felt the touch, knew that the healing power had gone forth from Him, and demanded to know whom He had benefited. His disciples protested the impossibility of finding out what one person in all this crowding throng had been affected. But Jesus summoned the woman, and she stood forth and confessed in fear what she had done.

The response of Jesus is among the most treasured of all His gifts to the faith and hope of man: "Be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole."