Then Zacchaeus said, "Sir, behold I will give for love of God, fourfold all that I have received by usury." Then Jesus said, "This day salvation has come to this house. Truly, many publicans, harlots, and sinners shall go into the kingdom of God, and they who account themselves righteous shall go into eternal flames." Hearing this, the Pharisees departed in indignation.

Then Jesus said to them who were converted to repentance, and to his disciples, "There was a father who had two sons. The younger said, 'Father, give me my portion of goods.' His father gave it to him. After receiving his portion, he departed and went into a far country, where he wasted all his substance with harlots, living luxuriously. After this, there arose a mighty famine in that country, such that the wretched man went to serve a citizen, who set him to feed swine in his property. While feeding them he assuaged his hunger in company with the swine, eating acorns.

However, when he came to himself, he said, 'Oh, how many in my father's house are feasting in abundance, and I perish here with hunger! I will go back to my father, and will aske him to punish me.' The poor man went, and it happened that his father saw him coming from afar off. Therefore, his father went forth to meet him, and having come up to him, he embraced his son and kissed him.

The son bowed himself down, saying, 'Father, I have sinned in heaven against you. Now do to me as to one of your servants, for I am not worthy to be called your son.' The father answered, 'Son, do not say so, for you are my son, and I will not suffer you to be in the condition of my slave.' He called his servants and said, 'Bring new robes here and clothe my son, and give him new garments; give him the ring on his finger, and kill the fatted calf and we will make merry; for this son of mine was dead but now has come to life again. He was lost and now is found.'

While they were making merry in the house, the elder son came home, and hearing that they were making merry within, he marvelled and called one of the servants, asking him why they were making merry in this way. The servant answered him, 'Your brother has come home and your father has killed the fatted calf, and they are feasting.' The elder son was greatly angered when he heard this, and did not go into the house. Therefore, his father came out and said to him, 'Son, your brother has come. Come and rejoice with him.' The elder son answered with indignation, 'I have always served you with good service, and you never gave me a lamb to eat with my friends. However, as for this worthless fellow that departed from you, wasting his entire portion with harlots, now that he is come you have killed the fatted calf!' The father answered, 'Son, you are always with me and everything is yours; but this one was dead and is alive again; was lost and now is found; that is why we must rejoice.'"

"As God lives," said Jesus, "Even so there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents."