(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
Seeking the lost
- Now, all the tax collectors and the sinners were approaching Him to listen to Him.
- And both the scribes and the Pharisees were grumbling, saying: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
- But He told this parable to them, saying:
- “Which man of you having a hundred sheep and having lost one of them doesn’t leave the 99 in the wilderness and go search on account of the *lost sheep until he finds it?
- “And having found it, he lays it on his shoulders rejoicing.
- “And having gone into the house, he summons his friends and his neighbors, saying to them: ‘Rejoice with me because I found my *lost sheep!’
- “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting than over 99 righteous men who have no need of repentance.
- “Or what woman having 10 drachmas1“drachmas” the plural of “drachma”, which was a Greek silver coin roughly equivalent to a day’s wage for unskilled labor, similar to a Roman denarius. — if she loses 1 drachma — doesn’t light a lamp and sweep the house, and search diligently until she finds it?
- “And having found it, she summons her friends and her neighbors, saying: ‘Rejoice with me because I found the drachma that I lost.’
- “I tell you that in the same way, there is joy in the sight of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.
The Prodigal Son
- And He said: “A man had two sons.
- “And the younger of them said to the father: ‘Father, give me the portion of the estate belonging to me.’ And the father distributed his livelihood to them.
- “And having gathered all his portion, the younger son departed after not many days into a distant land, and he squandered his estate there on recklessly extravagant living.
- “And having squandered all of his estate, a mighty famine happened throughout that land, and he began to lack food.
- “And having traveled, he was hired by one of the citizens of that land, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
- “And he was yearning to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving them to him.
- “And having come to himself, he was saying: ‘How many of my father’s hired servants are overflowing with bread? But I’m perishing with hunger here.’
- ” ‘Having gotten up, I will travel to my father and I will tell him: ‘Father, I sinned against heaven and in your sight;
- ” ‘I’m no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’
- “And having gotten up, he went to his own father. And with him still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. And having run to him, he fell on his neck and kissed him.
- “And the son said to him: ‘Father, I sinned against heaven and in your sight; I’m no longer worthy to be called your son; [make me like one of your hired servants]’
- “But the father said to his servants: “Quickly bring out my best robe and clothe him, and give him a ring for his hand, and sandals for his feet.
- ” ‘And bring the fattened calf, kill it, and having eaten, we should rejoice,’
- ” ‘because this son of mine was dead and came to life again; he was *lost and was found.’ And they began to rejoice.
- “Now, his elder son was in the field. And while coming back, he approached the house and heard music and dancing.
- “And having summoned one of the servant boys, he was asking what these things may be about.
- “And he told him: “Your brother is here, and your father killed the fattened calf because he received him in good health.
- “But he was angered and wasn’t willing to go in. And having gone outside, his father was admonishing him.
- “And answering, he told his father: “Behold, I’m slaving away for you for so many years now and I never neglected to obey your command, and yet you never gave me a young goat so I could rejoice with my friends.
- “But when this son of yours came — the one who devoured your livelihood with prostitutes — you killed the fattened calf for him!”
- “But he told him: “Son, you’re always with me, and all that’s mine is yours.
- “But to rejoice and to feast was necessary because this brother of yours was dead and came to life again; and he was *lost and was found.”
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