What Is the Parable of the Lost Coin — In Biblical Context
The Parable of the Lost Coin tells of a woman who searches diligently for one lost silver coin and rejoices with her neighbours when she finds it.
The Parable of the Lost Coin tells of a woman who searches diligently for one lost silver coin and rejoices with her neighbours when she finds it.
"Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?" — Luke 15:8 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
In Luke 15:8-10, Jesus pairs the Lost Sheep with the Lost Coin. A woman has ten silver coins and loses one. She lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches carefully until she finds it. Then she calls her friends and neighbours to rejoice. Jesus applies it: 'Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.' The coin had value simply because it belonged to the woman — it did not earn its own rescue. In the same way, every sinner has value because he or she belongs to God. The parable emphasizes the diligent, active search of the Spirit and the heavenly celebration that greets every conversion.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Luke 15:8, sits inside Luke 15. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?"
Supporting Passages
"And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost."
"Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
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