The parable of the Lost Coin is a story told by Jesus, found in the Gospel of Luke chapter 15 . It’s one of a set of three parables, along with the Lost Sheep and the Lost Son (or Prodigal Son), that Jesus uses to emphasize God’s love for those who are lost and his joy when they are found.
A woman has ten silver coins (drachmas), and she loses one. A drachma was a silver coin equivalent to a day’s wages, and losing one would have been a significant loss, both monetarily and potentially emotionally, as women sometimes wore a string of ten such coins as a wedding crown.
The woman lights a lamp, sweeps her house (which would have been dark and possibly dirty with a dirt floor) and diligently searches for the missing coin. When she finally finds it, she is overjoyed and calls her friends and neighbors to celebrate with her.
The parable concludes with Jesus saying, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents”. Several key themes are highlighted:
- The Value of Each Individual: Each coin, even just one out of ten, holds significant value for the woman. Similarly, every individual is precious to God, regardless of how “lost” they may seem or feel.
- God’s Diligent Search for the Lost: The woman’s tireless search for her lost coin represents God’s relentless and persistent love for lost souls. God actively seeks those who are astray, not passively waiting for them to return.
- The Joy of Repentance and Restoration: The woman’s celebration with her friends and neighbors mirrors the joy in heaven, both among angels and with God, when a sinner repents and turns back to God.
Jesus told these parables to a mixed audience, including Pharisees and religious leaders who were critical of his association with “sinners” and tax collectors. The parables challenge the Pharisees’ judgmental attitude and emphasize God’s unconditional love and welcoming nature towards all who turn to Him.
The parable of the Lost Coin offers a powerful message of hope and reassurance, reminding that God deeply values each person and rejoices when they come to Him, regardless of their past or present circumstances.
What is the meaning behind the lost coin?
And in the parable of the lost coin, He shows us how personal His love is. You are not just a nameless face in the crowd; He focuses on you as if you were the only person in the whole universe. That’s what makes Him the Almighty God, the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-loving God.
What is the lesson of the lost coin object?
I can help with that. Jesus told this story about a lost coin to make a point: that he came to seek and save lost people—even terrible sinners like tax collectors. And when a sinner came to God, there was a celebration just like when the woman found her lost coin. That’s how much your kids are worth. That’s what you’re worth.
What do the 10 coins represent in the Parable of the Lost Coin?
Great question! Interpretation. Joel B. Green notes that “the woman described is a poor peasant”, and the ten silver coins, corresponding to ten days’ wages, “likely represent the family savings “. The coins may also have been the woman’s dowry, worn as an ornament.