Parable of lost sheep/coin

This is the application of kingdom dwellers in life. More than just learning, it is applying, qualities of sharing, hospitality, humility, forgiveness, love, and some others that we will get to over the weeks.

Discipleship parables look at the behaviors of a disciple, or what our behaviors should look like as a disciple, a kingdom dweller

When these discipleship principles are applied they are evident and can be a great way of hope, solace, peace, comfort, encouragement for others.

Womack said: Study these parables in order to provide a bridge between your ailing, sin-sick soul, and the Great Physician, who can provide every need you may have.

This brings us to our two parables, which are a part of what Womack lumps as four that go hand in hand. Today, the lost sheep and lost coin, then next week the lost prodigal and the older brother.

Question: Ever lose or misplace something, if so, what did you do?

Question: When you lost something did it cause you worry or concern?

Question: If you found it, how did you feel about finding it?

As Jesus draws closer to the cross, the teaching seems to be more direct, more pointed, more crucial for this is about the very souls of man. And He came to save man, sinful man.

Insert Lk15:1-10 - - ask the usual questions

Luke 15:1–10 NASB95

1 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 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 righteous persons who need no repentance. 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.”

I mentioned a moment ago about four parables, some commentators and your bible may list it is three, Womack puts them as four. Some do not see them as parables, but as straight teaching. Though scripture tells us they are parables (v.3).

The four are similar in fact each in one way or another describe someone or something that is lost.

Similar is we see the mercy and forgiveness of God illustrated in each of them when the lost is found.

Matthew in his version (Mt18:12-14) does not use the word parable and does not treat the teaching by Jesus as parabolic, but rather simple truth. A teaching that may have been used over and over again that was very common.

Background:

Jesus is being watched constantly, looking for what they could accuse Him of and to persecute Him.

Jesus was already in hot water with the religious for healing a man with dropsy on the Sabbath (Lk14:1-6)

He spoke to the people about hospitality to all (Lk14:7-14)

Then the way up is down through humility (Lk14:15-24)

And just prior to these parables the importance of counting the cost of being a disciple (Lk14:25-35) - - - that is the setting in which we come to our parables today.

Now in this parable he is in another situation that the religious did not like. He is eating with sinners (15:2)

Jesus teaching was not like that of the Pharisees and the scribes it was like one with authority (Mt7:29).

Jesus teaching was for “all” not just the religious; here we see the “tax collectors and sinners.” (Lk15:1-2). They were drawing near to Him.

Jesus teaching stays to His task to save sinners (Lk19:10) and these parables tells part of that mission.

Explaining the text

Let’s start with the lost sheep (Lk15:4-7).

One historian and writer by name of Jeremias says this:

“Among the Bedouin the size of a flock varies from 20 to 200 head of small cattle; in Jewish law 300 head is reckoned as a unusually large flock. Hence, with 200 sheep the man possesses a medium-sized flock; he looks after it himself (like the man in Jn10:12); he cannot afford a watchman. (Parables of Jesus, pg. 133)

The setting is in the open range, we can know that by the wording that a sheep got lost, that could not happen if in a sheepfold like other scriptures.

Shepherds would count their sheep, not to go to sleep but so they can sleep knowing they are all accounted for, if one is missing the shepherd would set out to look for the missing sheep. He would enlist another shepherd to watch over his other sheep as he looks.

Notice (v.4) - - - he keeps looking until he finds it. He does not give up

A lost sheep when cut off from the fold becomes bewildered as Womack puts it, will lie down and and be unwilling to move until the shepherd comes.

Rejoice, of course rejoice found what was lost, the other shepherds would understand and relate too, so invite them.

The lost coin

Read again Lk15:8-10

Luke 15:8–10 NASB95

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 ten coins, most believe this is not spending money, but a special possession.

Kistemaker: “These coins were part of her dowry and were worn as ornamental decorations on her headdress. The modern equivalent may be a woman’s engagement ring and wedding band with studded diamonds. The loss of one of these diamonds causes dismay, anxiety, and worry.” (Parables of Jesus, pg. 207)

The coin, the drachma (Greek) or denarius (Roman). Worth about a day’s wage, a day’s labor. Most women did not work outside the home, so that is reason looking in the house for the lost coin .

Invites neighbors, for they too would not the worth, the value of finding the lost coin and they will join and rejoice with her.

Purpose and application:

Jesus wanted to teach the religious people (Lk15:2) of the value of every person. God wants to save all sinners, He sent Jesus to pay the price, to make atonement for all who would come to Him through Jesus, regardless of anything.

These parables shows the tremendous mercy and patience of a loving God and Father as Womack states.

Being saved from lost condition

The joy in heaven at being found and the joy, rejoicing we should have when something that was lost is found!

The lost sheep illustrations somethings are lost due to their own carelessness, ignorance, choices. In the case of lost coin things can be lost through the actions of other people.

The sheep did not make a decision to get lost, just got careless and got lost, cut off from the rest of the flock; then when realized lost did not know how to get back so was frozen in place.

The sheep was not lost because it was dead; it simply had lost its guide.

The lost coin was lost because of the carelessness or thoughtlessness of someone else. in fact, the coin really had nothing to do with becoming lost. (Womack)

The coin did not lose it’s value, it just was taken out of circulation, not available for its purpose.

Question: Do we know people, have we been the lost sheep, or the lost coin?

Learning to live the parables

First thing we can learn from these parables are we were all lost, are lost. This goes with all the other parables in this chapter where Jesus is showing the lostness, the brokenness, yet the joy that God has set before us when found.

We are responsible for the souls of many people while we live for Christ

Suppose one of you (v.3) - - - so, they are personal, and we are responsible. God told Ezekiel (Eze3:16-22) that he was a watchman. So, are you your brothers keeper? are you responsible for looking out for your brother?

What are we doing to help find the lost sheep?

As you can see these parables are very evangelical and restorative.

Many Christians are gently, and often ignorantly, led away from God’s fold by the power of Satan.

The sheep did not intend to get lost. Saw another interest, or just wandered off. The sheep forgot the shepherd and staying with the shepherd and the flock

Well, Womack also mentions, the sheep that moves to another place, away from family, home flock (church) and can get lost by not getting in with another flock. They did not intend to drift away, but in getting situated in new place got lost from the flock.

The one who is lost is as valuable as those who are “found.”

The shepherd still had 99, but the one lost is important at the moment.

The woman who lost one coin, still had 9 others, but the lost coin was important.

Both searched until the lost was found, then there was rejoicing.

Jesus is telling the leaders that the lost are important, they are precious in His sight.

Are we concerned as the body for the lost souls? God is, and we are His instruments to help look for the lost and join the rejoicing in heaven when one that is lost is found.

As the coin was lost due to someone’s carelessness, so also we may often be the cause for others becoming lost. (Womack)

Lost because they were broken by some offense, maybe not intentionally, but by unkind words, lovelessness, unfriendliness, or forcing our own opinions upon others and they can cause them to lose interest.

We should be on the lookout for those who lose interest, or those who come in, along, make them feel welcome, needed, appreciated, loved.

The lost sheep, the lost coin were in the midst of the religious people as Jesus presented these parables, we need to be looking for the lost among the religious people, find them and lead them back, then rejoice!

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