The Parable of the Lost Coin
Meta Description: Join Jesus as He tells a heartwarming parable of the lost coin, a determined woman, and the great joy she found when something precious is recovered.
Parable of the lost coin bible verses - Luke 15:8-10
The Ten Silver Coins Were A Woman's Treasure
Jesus gathered the children to tell them the Parable of the Lost Coin. Imagine, if you will, a village not far from here, perhaps like your own, nestled among the olive trees and dusty paths. In this village lived a woman. Now, in our time, a woman’s silver coins were not just for buying bread or cloth. Often, these ten silver coins, called drachmas, were her very own special treasure, perhaps given to her by her family as a wedding gift. She would wear a beautiful headband of coins to show she was married and to keep her wealth safe (Monson, 2017). Think of these ten coins as a precious part of her identity, her savings, her security.
This woman, like many in our villages, lived in a simple mud-brick house. Her floor was probably just packed earth, sometimes covered with straw or reeds. The rooms could be quite dark, even during the day, because windows were small, meant more for keeping out the hot sun or cold winds than letting in much light.
The Search for the Lost Coin Begins!
One sunny morning, as she went about her daily chores – perhaps grinding grain with a hand mill to make flour for bread, or perhaps sorting lentils – she touched her precious headband. And then, her heart leaped! One of her ten coins was gone! Just one.
Now, why was this so upsetting? That missing, lost coin meant more than just money. It was part of her special treasure. Can you imagine how she felt? Sad? Worried? Yes, all of those things!
So, what did she do? Did she give up? No! She did not sit idly. Oh no, my dears, she was determined!
First, she lit a lamp. Even though it might have been daytime outside, inside her humble home, there were dark corners where a tiny coin could hide. The flickering flame would help her see into every crevice (Jeremias, 1969).
Then, she began to sweep the house. Not just a quick brush, but diligently, carefully, sweeping every inch of that earthen floor. Maybe she got down on to the floor, pushing the dirt and dust this way and that way. Maybe her eyes scanned the floor left and right, back and forth, hoping, praying to see that glint of silver.
She would look under the sleeping mats, behind the large clay storage jars, and in every crack. She would make a patient, thorough search, as careful as a shepherd looking for a lost lamb in the hills of Judea.
Rejoicing with Friends When The Lost Coin Was Found
And then, children, imagine the moment! Her lamp beam catches something, a tiny sparkle! With a cry of joy, she reaches down, and there it is – her lost silver coin! Her heart filled with happiness, like a burst of sunshine after a storm!
Did she keep this joy to herself? No! That would not be our custom. When something wonderful happens, we share our joy! She went out, perhaps to the courtyard or the village well where women gathered. She called her friends and neighbors. "Rejoice with me!" she exclaimed, "for I have found the coin that I had lost!" And they did rejoice with her, because in our close-knit communities, one person’s joy is everyone’s joy. They understood how important that coin was to her.
God's Rejoices In The Presence Of The Angels When One Lost Human Being Who Repents Of Their Sins
Now, why do I tell you this story about a woman and her lost coin? Listen closely, my little ones, for this is the most important part.
Just like that woman searched with all her heart for that one lost coin, and just like she rejoiced so greatly when she found it, even more wonderful is the joy in heaven! I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents!
Do you know what "repents" means? It means when someone who has perhaps wandered away, like that coin was lost, turns their heart back to God. When they realize they want to be close to God again, and they decide to change their ways, there is a great celebration in Heaven!
Each one of you is more precious than any silver coin, more valuable than all the treasures in the world. And just as the woman cared deeply for her coin, God cares for each of you infinitely more.
Each human was born as a sinner and is lost in sin. God rejoices greatly in Heaven whenever anyone turns away from sinning and begins to live righteously.
God is always looking for you in order to save you from sins and from hell. He is, pleading for you to turn to Him. When you do so, there is immense joy in heaven. You are never forgotten, never unloved.
Read this article on how to receive eternal life in order to find your way to God and repent of your sins.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What kind of houses did people live in during Jesus' time? A: Most people lived in simple mud-brick houses with earthen floors, often with small windows to keep out the heat or cold.
Q2: Why was one silver coin so important to the woman? A: For many women in ancient Israel, a set of ten silver coins (drachmas) was a special family treasure, sometimes worn as a headband to show status and wealth, making each coin very valuable to her.
Q3: How did people make flour for bread in those days? A: Women often used a hand mill to grind grains like wheat or barley into flour, a daily chore that was essential for their food.
Q4: What does "repents" mean in the story? A: "Repents" means to turn your heart back to God, to change your ways from sinning and to live righteously according to the Word of God (bible). It’s like finding your way home after being lost.
Conclusion
So, my dear children, remember the woman and her lost coin. Remember her diligent search, her great joy, and the shared celebration. And always, always remember that God's love for you is even greater. You are His precious treasure, and there is immense joy in heaven when you repent of your sins and begin to live for Him.
References
Jeremias, J. (1969). The Parables of Jesus (Completely Rev. Ed.). Charles Scribner's Sons.
Monson, J. (2017). Women of the Old Testament: Inspiring You to Live with Strength and Courage. Deseret Book Company. (Note: While this specific reference focuses on the Old Testament, the cultural practice of women wearing coins as a display of wealth and status, often as part of a dowry or wedding gift, extends into the intertestamental and New Testament periods in the region. This is a common point of discussion in biblical customs studies.)
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