The Parables of Jesus - The Lost Coin

Introduction

Today, we continue our study of the parables of Jesus in Luke chapter 15. 

This chapter is divided into three distinct parts, a threefold, yet they are all united by the same message that God gives us through Jesus Christ: the greatness of His grace and His deep desire to seek those whom the Father has given Him, those who have been sought, found, and saved, having been chosen by the Father before the foundation of the world.

Last week, we looked together at the Parable of the Lost Sheep, the sheep that belongs to the Good Shepherd of Israel, as well as all those who belong to Him and who have received the grace that comes from the eternal Father.

This week, we will look at a parable that is similar in its message, yet different in the way it is presented.

This time, it is no longer a man who loses an animal that is precious to him—a sheep for which he is responsible, a sheep that he must feed, shear, and care for throughout its life, before going to search for it and finding it again. 

Instead, it is a woman who loses one of her ten silver coins, a drachma of great value among the ten that she possesses.

She searches for it carefully until she finds it, and then she shares her joy with those around her, both friends and neighbors, showing the extent of her daily responsibility and the joy she experiences in recovering what had been lost.

What is interesting to notice is that, this time, the Lord Jesus Christ uses the example of a woman rather than a man, and He places the scene inside a house—a confined and intimate place, her own home—instead of an open and spacious setting.

This may lead us to think that the Lord is drawing our attention to His own house, the place that belongs to Him. Not that we are silver coins, far from it, but this picture reminds us that we are of great value in His sight.

This parable also shows us the place of a godly and faithful woman in God's plan, faithfully carrying out the responsibilities that the Lord has entrusted to her and reflecting His grace to those whom He places in her path.

Let us now look together at this beautiful parable and discover how the Lord desires to teach us through the depths of His Word.

Teaching

Reading of the Parable – “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”” v.8-10

Let us now take this passage verse by verse in order to better understand what Jesus is teaching us here.

"Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?" v.8

The word "or" here simply means, "Or, if you would like another explanation, here is another illustration."

This time, Jesus uses an example that would certainly speak more directly to the women who were listening, but also to the men, who could easily imagine their own wives in such a situation, responsible for managing the household and probably also a portion of the family's savings.

Jesus desires to reach every heart. He does so by using simple illustrations drawn from everyday life. He does not teach only through extraordinary or supernatural events, but through ordinary situations that were easy for the men and women of His day to understand—and that are still just as understandable for us today.

The coin used in this parable is called a drachma. It was a silver coin that was widely known throughout the Greek world in the days of Jesus. It was worth approximately one day's wages. 

Today, that would be roughly the equivalent of 800 baht. Losing even a single drachma was therefore a significant loss, especially for a modest household. However, in this parable, the value of the coin probably did not lie only in its monetary worth. 

Many commentators and scholars believe that the ten drachmas may have formed part of an ornament worn by a married woman, perhaps as a headpiece or a necklace that she had received on the day of her marriage.

If that was the case, losing one of those coins represented not only a financial loss, but also a very sentimental and symbolic one.

Whatever the case may be, whether it was simply a silver coin or part of a precious piece of jewelry, this drachma was of great value to this woman. That is why she searches for it so carefully.

As in the previous parable, this loss is very real when we look at it from a human perspective.

To us, something is lost simply because we can no longer see it. But God never loses the knowledge of those who belong to Him. What is lost in our eyes is never lost in His.

The fact that only one coin is lost out of the ten also reminds us of the Parable of the Lost Sheep. This time, the proportion is even greater: one out of ten.

It is interesting to notice that Jesus progressively brings His listeners closer to what is lost.

- First, there is one lost sheep out of a hundred, in the wilderness. 

- Then, there is one lost coin out of ten, in the house. 

- Finally, in the same chapter, there is one lost son out of two, in the family. 

With each parable, our Lord Jesus draws us closer to the Father's heart.

When we read that the woman lights a lamp to search for the lost coin, I do not want to impose my own interpretation on the text, but there is a thought that comes to my mind.

The Lord Himself tells us that a lamp is not hidden under a basket but placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house, right?

Could He be reminding us that it is by the light of His Word that He illuminates His house and brings to Himself those whom the Father has entrusted to Him?

I love the Word of God because it continually gives us light. Every time we read it, it reveals a little more of the wisdom and greatness of God, the depth of His love, and the beauty of His saving work toward all those who belong to Him.

But notice something else. The woman does not simply light the lamp; she also sweeps the house. Sweeping was part of a faithful woman's daily responsibility, removing the dust and dirt that continually accumulated in her home.

In a similar way, the Lord continually works in our hearts through His Word and by His Holy Spirit. 

He first brings sinners to repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and then He continues to sanctify His children day by day, stirring up the dust of pride, bitterness, and worldliness that so easily defile our hearts, removing whatever hinders our fellowship with Him, and conforming us to the likeness of Christ.

God does not sweep our hearts to punish us. He sweeps them to expose what is hidden and to draw us to Himself.

"And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ " v.9

When Jesus tells us that the woman finds the lost coin, we can sense a note of certainty. She does not give up her search; she continues looking until she finds what she had lost.

Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever searched for something you had lost, while deep down being convinced that sooner or later you would find it?

You keep searching with determination because you know it is there somewhere. You do not give up; you keep looking until you find it.

That is exactly the attitude of this woman. She knows her house. She knows every corner and every room. Nothing is unfamiliar to her, and nothing is hidden from her eyes. In the same way, our Lord knows every part of the earth, every soul, and every creature that lives upon it. Nothing escapes His omniscience.

The prophet Isaiah declares: "Thus says the LORD: 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?'" (Isaiah 66:1, ESV)

Then we are given this beautiful picture of a woman filled with joy, calling her friends and neighbors to come and share in her celebration, with joy, gladness, and love.

We should have the same attitude as this woman. Whenever a soul is saved and becomes our brother or sister in Christ, it should always be a reason for joy, love, and thanksgiving in the household of God.

It is also interesting to notice that the woman says, "the coin that I had lost." 

- She does not try to hide what happened. 

- She openly speaks about both the loss she experienced and the joy she now has. 

In the same way, whether we go through seasons of weakness or seasons of rejoicing, it is important that we share these things with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

These friends and neighbors also remind us of those with whom we share the same spiritual household—the local church. 

It is there that the Lord gathers us together to bear one another's burdens, to share both our joys and our trials, and to grow together in maturity, in love, and in the knowledge of God through the Scriptures, so that we may reflect the joy of His Kingdom to the world around us.

This woman's testimony before those around her also reveals something about her character. Her friends and neighbors come to rejoice with her, which suggests that she was a woman of integrity, welcoming, open to others, and sincere in her relationships. Her home was undoubtedly a place of fellowship, sharing, and hospitality, where joy could be experienced together.

For hospitality also reflects the very heart of God. Throughout the Scriptures, God calls us to open our homes, to welcome others, and to live in genuine fellowship with one another.

This reminds us of the exhortation found in the Epistle to the Hebrews: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (Hebrews 13:2, ESV)

Our homes should be places where the love of Christ is made visible, where brothers and sisters are welcomed with joy, and where God's blessings are shared for His glory alone.

Now, let us turn to the final verse.

"Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”" v.10

"Just so, I tell you" In the same way, I tell you, notice that Jesus continues to speak directly to the Pharisees and the scribes, those who were present as He was teaching.

In this second parable about the grace of God revealed through salvation in Jesus Christ, repentance is once again a central theme. It is a call to change our way, a sincere and genuine turning of the heart back to God.

It turns us away from the desire to do what pleases ourselves and leads us to seek what pleases God, asking Him to enlighten us by His Holy Spirit and to guide us according to His will.

Only a regenerated heart that has experienced the grace of God can truly understand this reality, like the sinner in this verse who recognizes that he was empty within, that nothing could satisfy his soul, and that his only hope was to be reconciled to God.

Jesus does not simply say that the angels rejoice. He says, "there is joy before the angels of God." The angels, therefore, are the witnesses of this heavenly joy.

The angels of God are spiritual beings created by God to serve Him and to accomplish His will. Although they do not have physical bodies like human beings, God sometimes allows them to appear in human form in order to carry out the mission He entrusts to them.

The word "angel" comes from the Greek word angelos, which means "messenger." Throughout the Scriptures, angels appear as God's heavenly messengers, but the word angelos is also used of human messengers. 

In the book of Revelation, for example, the Lord Jesus said to the apostle John, "Write this to the angel of the church in Ephesus" (Rev. 2:1, ESV). 

Many commentators and scholars understand this "angel" to refer to the messenger of the church—that is, its pastor or spiritual leader, given by Christ to His church as a gift and entrusted with faithfully proclaiming His Word (Ephesians 4:11–12).

Throughout the Scriptures, angels also appear as protectors, worshipers, and servants who faithfully carry out God's commands, including when they are sent to execute His judgments upon the earth at the glorious return of Jesus Christ.

Their presence throughout the Bible reminds us that God reigns sovereignly over all His creation. They display His power, His wisdom, and His providence by always accomplishing His will for His glory.

The apostle Peter also reminds us of the interest they have in the work of salvation: "It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look." (1 Pet. 1:12, ESV)

The angels therefore look with admiration upon the work of salvation accomplished by God. They are not the authors of this salvation, but the witnesses of this sovereign grace shown to repentant sinners.

Yes, heaven rejoices whenever a single sinner repents. But we too should rejoice that the Lord gives us the privilege of proclaiming the gospel and of going to the "lost drachmas" of the household of God. 

What an honor it is to be the instruments God uses to call sinners to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

As the prophet Isaiah had already written: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion,'Your God reigns.'"(Isaiah 52:7, ESV)

Conclusion

Returning to the picture of the woman whom our Lord Jesus Christ uses as an example, it is important to understand that the drachma symbolizes the preciousness of those whom our heavenly Father desires to find. In His love and sovereign grace, He accomplishes everything necessary to fulfill His purpose of salvation.

Very often, when we look back over the course of our lives, we realize that God was already at work. Yet we neither understood it nor had the ability to see it, or simply because His time for our salvation had not yet come.

So, just as I asked you last week, I ask you the same question today, but in a different way: 

- What is there in your life today that is keeping you from returning to the Father's house?

- What has greater value in your eyes than your own soul? 

- What is still keeping you from coming to Jesus Christ?

If you hear this Word today, know that God is calling you. Allow yourself to be loved by the One who created you and who loved you first by sending His only Son to die on the cross. He, the Righteous One, died in the place of the unrighteous in order to reconcile to God all those who put their faith in Him.

You have immeasurable value in the sight of God. Even today, He is calling you. Do not resist His voice. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of your sins, and come to Him while there is still time.

Thus, the prophet Isaiah gives us this solemn invitation, which the apostle Paul also repeats in his Epistle to the Romans: "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:6–7, ESV)