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The Parable of the Lost Coin

Dane Felicien

“Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them’” (Luke 15:1-2).

So Jesus spoke this parable of a woman who lost a valuable coin from her collection and her effervescent celebration when she had found it. Jesus continues his discourse in verse ten immediately explaining the parable in the great joy that is also in heaven over one sinner who repents. This is one of the three parables in Luke 15 that to the reader is beckoning “You are lost, do you want to be found?”

The introduction in Luke 15 is very important because it identified two groups of people: the Pharisees and scribes (the self righteous), and the tax collectors and sinners (the despicable and ungodly). In today’s concept these groups can be represented by these extremes: the self sufficient “good” man distinguished from the murderer, adulterer, fornitcator, homosexual, liar, or thief. The parable further shows who are the complainers: the “good man.” “Why Lord do you keep company with the depraved?” Jesus however, did not rebuke anyone but explains instead to his audience of self-righteous and ungodly, the great rejoicing in heaven because one sinner repents. There are implications from this parable for both the “good” man and the sinner.

Before establishing those implications there is also a vital part to the parable that Jesus demonstrates when he said in verse 8: “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?” Meditate on this for a bit. These are not just pennies you lose in the couch, but represents a good part of all the money she had. The woman searches frantically, desperately, settling for nothing less except that the lost coin is found. That is how much the Lord loves us. We are all his offspring and He is doing everything to find us and redeem us, not even sparing Jesus to die for our sins. God is not giving up on us; it is we who give up on Him. God values us more than we value ourselves. We are all depraved because of sin – sin that is our own. God is doing it all to redeem us that we would repent and be welcomed back into His fold amidst a rejoicing throng.

If you are self-righteous, the man everyone refers to as a “good man,” Jesus parable appeals to you insisting that all men are lost without God. Salvation is only through Jesus Christ. Do not be justified in your own sight but be humble in the sight of God that you too may recognize repentance is also your due diligence. Oh, how heaven anxiously waits this jubilee!

If you are the murderer, adulterer, fornicator, homosexual, liar, thief, or full of envy and hatred, the good news of Jesus Christ bearing your sins before the Father is that you too may be saved. That is the parable’s message. Are you willing to repent? The only, but eternal, guarantee is that God and all his angels are now on your side helping you through the earthly consequences of your sins. But rejoice, for heaven is also rejoicing that you too can obey the simplicity of the gospel message requiring our repentance and obedience to God Almighty.

The Bible, especially the New Testament, introduces two conditions of humanity, lost and saved. If we sit still and ponder on our humanity where we can relate to those spiritual truths that our conscience often chooses to deny, we realize the fear which in every human: the fear of being lost. In the parables of Luke 15 Jesus addresses the condition of being lost, the unending extent of God’s desire to redeem us, and the ultimate joy in heaven when we are found. What a comfort to those fears! Do you want to be found? Three thousand souls did the first day they heard the good news of Jesus Christ resurrection from the dead (as recorded in Acts 2:38). This is the same response expected from you, if you want to be found by Him.