The Parable of the Lost Sheep

151 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble , saying , "This man receives sinners and eats with them." 3 So He told them this parable , saying , 4 " What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine e in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 "When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders , rejoicing . 6 "And when he comes home , he calls together his friends and his neighbors , saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost !' 7 "I tell you that in the same way , there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine e righteous persons who need no repentance .

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8 "Or what woman , if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin , does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 "When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors , saying , 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost !' 10 "In the same way , I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents ."

The Parable of the Lost Son

11 And He said , "A man had two sons . 12 "The younger of them said to his father , 'Father , give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them. 13 "And not many days later , the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country , and there he squandered his estate with loose living . 14 "Now when he had spent everything , a severe famine occurred in that country , and he began to be impoverished . 15 "So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country , and he sent him into his fields to feed swine . 16 "And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating , and no one was giving anything to him. 17 "But when he came to his senses , he said , 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread , but I am dying here with hunger ! 18 'I will get up and go to my father , and will say to him, "Father , I have sinned against heaven , and in your sight ; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son ; make me as one of your hired men ."' 20 "So he got up and came to his father . But while he was still a long way off , his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced e e him and kissed him. 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 .' 22 "But the father said to his slaves , 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet ; 23 and bring the fattened calf , kill it, and let us eat and celebrate ; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again ; he was lost and has been found .' And they began to celebrate . 25 "Now his older son was in the field , and when he came and approached the house , he heard music and dancing . 26 "And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what e these things could be. 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 .' 28 "But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 "But he answered and said to his father , 'Look ! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours ; and yet you have never given me a young goat , so that I might celebrate with my friends ; 30 but when this son of yours came , who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes , you killed the fattened calf for him.' 31 "And he said to him, 'Son , you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours . 32 'But we had to celebrate and rejoice , for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live , and was lost and has been found .' "

The Preaching of John the Baptist

31 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar , when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea , and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee , and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis , and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene , 2 in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas , the word of God came to John , the son of Zacharias , in the wilderness . 3 And he came into all the district around the Jordan , preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins ; 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet , " THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS , 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE Lord , MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT . 5 ' EVERY RAVINE WILL BE FILLED , AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE BROUGHT LOW ; THE CROOKED WILL BECOME e STRAIGHT , AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH ; 6 AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD .' " 7 So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, " You brood of vipers , who warned you to flee from the wrath to come ? 8 "Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance , and do not begin to say to yourselves , ' We have Abraham for our father ,' for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham . 9 "Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees ; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire ." 10 And the crowds were questioning him, saying , " Then what shall we do ?" 11 And he would answer and say to them, "The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none ; and he who has food is to do likewise ." 12 And some tax collectors also came to be baptized , and they said to him, "Teacher , what shall we do ?" 13 And he said to them, "Collect no more than what you have been ordered to." 14 Some soldiers were questioning him, saying , "And what about us, what shall we do ?" And he said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force , or accuse anyone falsely , and be content with your wages ."

15 Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John , as to whether he was the Christ , 16 John answered and said to them all , "As for me, I baptize you with water ; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals ; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire . 17 "His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor , and to gather the wheat into His barn ; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire ." 18 So with many other exhortations he preached the gospel to the people . 19 But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias , his brother's wife , and because of all the wicked things which Herod had done , 20 Herod also added this to them all : he locked John up in prison .

The Baptism of Jesus

21 Now when all the people were baptized , Jesus was also baptized , and while He was praying , heaven was opened , 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove , and a voice came out of heaven , " You are My beloved Son , in You I am well-pleased ."

The Genealogy of Jesus

23 When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age , being , as was supposed , the son of Joseph , the son of Eli , 24 the son of Matthat , the son of Levi , the son of Melchi , the son of Jannai , the son of Joseph , 25 the son of Mattathias , the son of Amos , the son of Nahum , the son of Hesli , the son of Naggai , 26 the son of Maath , the son of Mattathias , the son of Semein , the son of Josech , the son of Joda , 27 the son of Joanan , the son of Rhesa , the son of Zerubbabel , the son of Shealtiel , the son of Neri , 28 the son of Melchi , the son of Addi , the son of Cosam , the son of Elmadam , the son of Er , 29 the son of Joshua , the son of Eliezer , the son of Jorim , the son of Matthat , the son of Levi , 30 the son of Simeon , the son of Judah , the son of Joseph , the son of Jonam , the son of Eliakim , 31 the son of Melea , the son of Menna , the son of Mattatha , the son of Nathan , the son of David , 32 the son of Jesse , the son of Obed , the son of Boaz , the son of Salmon , the son of Nahshon , 33 the son of Amminadab , the son of Admin , the son of Ram , the son of Hezron , the son of Perez , the son of Judah , 34 the son of Jacob , the son of Isaac , the son of Abraham , the son of Terah , the son of Nahor , 35 the son of Serug , the son of Reu , the son of Peleg , the son of Heber , the son of Shelah , 36 the son of Cainan , the son of Arphaxad , the son of Shem , the son of Noah , the son of Lamech , 37 the son of Methuselah , the son of Enoch , the son of Jared , the son of Mahalaleel , the son of Cainan , 38 the son of Enosh , the son of Seth , the son of Adam , the son of God .