Parable 9 The Lost Coin

Parable 9

The Lost Coin

Luke 15:8-10

Ever lost something?

We all have!

We can search for hours to find.

When you leave the house Key – wallet/purse – driver’s license – money – phone

No keys no drive. Leave that phone

The kitchen phone.

1st Century Home

A small house

Few or no windows.

Floors often made of packed dirt.

Losing a coin in such a house would make finding it extremely difficult without careful searching.

Did It fall in the goat’s pen?

Notice this little detail

She light a lamp.

Homes were dark and dingy

Not a penny

The coin mentioned here is a drachma.

Roughly a day’s wage for a laborer.

For a poor family, losing one coin out of ten could mean losing food for the week.

A deeper meaning

Some scholars suggest the ten coins may have been part of a woman’s marriage dowry.

Maybe even a headdress.

Not only financial but also personal loss.

A second in a trilogy.

Each highlights God’s joy in recovering the lost.

Remember the criticism. Eating with sinners.

We are seeing the heart of God.

He actively seeks (The woman)

We are of great value to God. (Psalm 139)

Even the angels in heaven.

Symbolism

Woman = God

Light = equals the word of God.

The coin = sinners/believer lost and not “finding their way back” on their own.

They need to be sought and found.

It’s a cause for celebration.

The Lost Coin

Real life example

A lost wedding ring

You don’t shrug and say, I still have other jewelry”

The value of that ring is tied to love to a relationship.

Not simply the cost.

The woman’s dilemma

Luke 15:8 (NLT) — 8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it?

Luke 15:8 NLT

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it?

“Carefully” – Diligently

She has ten coins but yet deeply grieved the loss of one.

 In human thinking, “It’s only one, she still has nine.”

But to her, each coin was precious.

Every soul is valuable to God. No one is “just one of many.”

You are not for shaken.

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT) — 5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

Hebrews 13:5 NLT

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

She sweeps the floor

Lights a lamp and sweeps the floor.

There was no giving up.

Behold I stand at the door and knock.

Imagine those lost keys – wedding ring – lost child.

Oh the Joy.

She finds it.

Luke 15:9 (NLT) — 9 And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’

Luke 15:9 NLT

And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’

The woman doesn’t keep the joy to herself.

She calls her friends and neighbors to celebrate.

She calls channel 6 news.

Heaven’s joy.

Luke 15:10 (NLT) — 10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”

Luke 15:10 NLT

In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”

Even the angels rejoice.

“Evangelism is not just about duty; it’s about sharing in heaven’s joy.”

Every conversion is a party in God’s presence.

What are you doing to spread heaven’s joy.

Lessons to be learned

Every soul has immeasurable value to God.

God actively seeks the lost with persistent love.

There is joy in heaven over every sinner who repents.

If you feel lost, know this: God has lit the lamp, swept the house, and is searching for you.

If you’re found, join in His mission.

Seek the lost and rejoice with heaven when they are restored.