And hearing[this], Jesussaidto them, "[It is] not thosewho are healthywho needa physician,but thosewho are sick;I did not cometo callthe righteous,but sinners."
"Comenow,and let us reasontogether," Saysthe LORD,"Thoughyour sinsare as scarlet,They will be as whiteas snow;Thoughthey are redlike crimson,They will be like wool.
Let the wickedforsakehis wayAnd the unrighteousmanhis thoughts;And let him returnto the LORD,And He will havecompassionon him, And to our God,For He will abundantlypardon.
"The heartis moredeceitfulthanallelse And is desperatelysick;Whocan understandit?
"Seethat you do not despiseoneof theselittle ones,for I sayto you that their angelsin heavencontinuallyseethe faceof My Fatherwho is in heaven.
"In the same way,I tellyou, there is joyin the presenceof the angelsof Godoveronesinnerwho repents."
"But he answeredand saidto his father,'Look!For so manyyearsI have been servingyou and I have neverneglecteda commandof yours;and [yet] you have nevergivenme a young goat,sothat I might celebratewith my friends;
"I tellyou that in the same way,there will be [more] joyin heavenoveronesinnerwho repentsthanoverninety-ninerighteous personswhoneednorepentance.
And He saidto them, "You are thosewho justifyyourselvesin the sightof men,but Godknowsyour hearts;for that which is highly esteemedamongmenis detestablein the sightof God.
"For the Sonof Manhas cometo seekand to savethat which was lost."
They answeredhim, "You were bornentirelyin sins,and are you teachingus?" Sothey puthim out.
Thoseof the Phariseeswho were with Him heardthese thingsand saidto Him, "We are not blindtoo,are we?"
solemnly testifyingto bothJewsand Greeksof repentancetowardGodand faithin our LordJesusChrist.
but [kept] declaringbothto thoseof Damascusfirst,and [also] at Jerusalemand [then] throughout allthe regionof Judea,and [even] to the Gentiles,that they should repentand turnto God,performingdeedsappropriateto repentance.
whogaveHimselffor us to redeemus from everylawless deed,and to purifyfor Himselfa peoplefor His ownpossession,zealousfor gooddeeds.
