Luke 5,8-10
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “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?
9 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.’
10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Hello everyone, I am Kiki. The Chinese name of our second phase of the program is “读经大讲堂”. The English name is “Bible Study”.
We will adopt a relaxed and enjoyable learning mode to take you into a new world of learning. Each time, I will make a personal summary and analysis from the perspective of a learner, and then Sister Ingrid will help me conduct in-depth learning and discussions with everybody.
I hope that such an interesting and interactive process can bring a new learning experience to you all. The following is my interview with Sister Ingrid on related issues. Today is the 43rd lecture on the Gospel of Luke.
Everyone is welcome to leave a message in the comment area for discussion!
2. My summary of the 43rd study of Luke:
Well, everybody! First of all, here is my personal study summary for today.
A woman has ten silver coins. She loses one. She lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches carefully until she finds it. Then she calls her friends and neighbors and says, “Rejoice with me! I have found my lost coin.”
Jesus says that this is how God feels about one sinner who repents. The lost coin is like a person who is far from God. The woman is like God, who searches for that person. When the sinner turns back to God, all the angels in heaven are happy.
This story tells us that every single person matters to God. Even if you make mistakes, God does not give up on you. He looks for you. And when you come back to Him, heaven celebrates. You are that valuable.
Now let Sister Ingrid give a deeper summary.
3. Sister Ingrid’s comment on my study summary:
Hello sister, first we have to see that in some texts, the coin is defined as a drachma. This is not a Hebrew currency; it is a Greek currency.
This coin was not meant to pay for something. Certainly, the woman used it as jewelry, maybe as part of a bracelet or a diadem. This could explain why the coin was so valuable to her.
Now let us take a look at the coin. It just lies somewhere in the house, unable to come back by its own intent. It is necessary that someone cleans up the house until it is found. We are in the same state as sinners before God. We did not find God by our own intent; God found us and put us in the place where we are now.
The lamp stands for the Word of God, which lights up our hearts, and the broom represents the Holy Spirit, which cleans our dirty hearts.
And just as the coin had the destiny to make the woman more beautiful, we have the destiny to be kings and priests before God and to adore Him day and night.
After being lost in a hidden place in a house, we are carried back to our place again and shine before God and the angels, who rejoice when we come.
4. Q&A List Based on the 43rd Study of Luke:
Okay. Based on the above Bible study content, now let me ask Sister Ingrid some related questions.
We hope the following questions can be helpful to our brothers and sisters.
1. Why does the woman look so hard for one lost coin?
Because it was part of an expensive piece of jewelry. We are part of God’s church, and without us, something is missing in His church.
2. How many coins did she have in total? Did she only love money?
She had ten silver coins. Ten is a number representing completeness.
The point is that it was not simply money. It was a Greek silver coin, and for one reason or another, this jewelry was important to her.
3. What does the lost coin stand for in this story?
It stands for a lost sinner.
4. What does “diligently” mean when she searches?
She was not lazy. She took a tool and swept until it was found. She did not waste time with other activities.
5. Who does she invite to celebrate?
Her friends and her neighbors.
6. What does she say to her friends?
She says, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’
7. Who rejoices in heaven when a sinner repents?
The angels in heaven rejoice when a sinner repents.
8. How is finding the coin like God finding a sinner?
The coin cannot move, and a sinner is dead in sin as well. But with God there is abundant life.
9. Why does she share her joy with others?
Because her joy was so great that she wanted to share it. Jesus died on the cross for us. The angels saw it, and because of this, they are happy when His work bears fruit.
10. How does God feel when someone repents?
He is happy too, because the will of God is that all people on earth come to repentance and are saved from eternal death.
