Psalms 22:24
22:24 For he did not despise or detest the suffering of the oppressed;
he did not ignore him;
when he cried out to him, he responded.
Psalms 102:17
102:17 when he responds to the prayer of the destitute,
and does not reject their request.
Psalms 102:2
102:2 Do not ignore me in my time of trouble!
Listen to me!
When I call out to you, quickly answer me!
Psalms 33:12-13
33:12 How blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom he has chosen to be his special possession.
33:13 The Lord watches from heaven;
he sees all people.
Amos 5:21
5:21 “I absolutely despise your festivals!
I get no pleasure from your religious assemblies!
Luke 7:39-50
7:39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this,
he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet,
he would know who and what kind of woman
this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.”
7:40 So
Jesus answered him,
“Simon, I have something to say to you.” He replied,
“Say it, Teacher.”
7:41 “A certain creditor
had two debtors; one owed him
five hundred silver coins,
and the other fifty.
7:42 When they could not pay, he canceled
the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
7:43 Simon answered,
“I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”
Jesus
said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
7:44 Then,
turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet,
but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
7:45 You gave me no kiss of greeting,
but from the time I entered she has not stopped kissing my feet.
7:46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet
with perfumed oil.
7:47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much;
but the one who is forgiven little loves little.”
7:48 Then
Jesus
said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
7:49 But
those who were at the table
with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”
7:50 He
said to the woman, “Your faith
has saved you;
go in peace.”
Luke 15:2-7
15:2 But
the Pharisees
and the experts in the law
were complaining,
“This man welcomes
sinners and eats with them.”
15:3 So Jesus told them this parable:
15:4 “Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it?
15:5 Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
15:6 Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’
15:7 I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.
Luke 15:10
15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels
over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:21-32
15:21 Then
his son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven
and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
15:22 But the father said to his slaves,
‘Hurry! Bring the best robe,
and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger
and sandals
on his feet!
15:23 Bring
the fattened calf
and kill it! Let us eat
and celebrate,
15:24 because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again – he was lost and is found!’
So
they began to celebrate.
15:25 “Now his older son was in the field. As he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
15:26 So he called one of the slaves and asked what was happening.
15:27 The slave replied, ‘Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got his son back safe and sound.’
15:28 But the older son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and appealed to him,
15:29 but he answered his father, ‘Look! These many years I have worked like a slave for you, and I never disobeyed your commands. Yet you never gave me even a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends!
15:30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
15:31 Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and everything that belongs to me is yours.
15:32 It was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.’”