The Parable of The Lost Coin Bible Study – Luke 15:8-10
Luke 15:8-10 “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 “When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!‘ 10 “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”Â
- What title do you give to this parable?
Lost and Found
Joyful Find
The Careful Search
True Repentance
The Precious Coin
- What other parables have similar characteristics or theme?
The hidden treasure
The pearl of great price
The dragnet
The lost sheep
The two sons
The lost son
The Pharisee and tax collector
- Who was Jesus speaking to when He gave this parable?
He was speaking to tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, scribes, and of course to His own disciples.
- What was the context for this parable?
He is speaking to large crowds about true discipleship and the need for repentance.
- What are the main elements of the parable and what does each represent? Fill in the answers.
- Woman –
- Ten silver coins –
- Loses –
- One coin –
- Light a lamp –
- Sweep the house –
- Search carefully –
- Finds it –
- Calls together her friends and neighbors –
- Rejoice with me –
- I have found the coin which I had lost –
-  –
-  –
-  –
-  –
- What spiritual principle(s) does this parable teach?
- All believers were once lost sinners in need of salvation.
- Everyone of the yet to believe elect is precious to God
- Repentance is a key element of salvation
- Lost sinners don’t conduct a search for God, He searches for the lost sinner!
- All the elect will be found.
- God never gives up the search.
- All God’s people rejoice at the conversion of a lost sinner.
- People, like silver, have intrinsic value.
- God demonstrates how He values men’s souls by the price He requires to redeem them.
- Lost souls are lost and overcome by the dirt of the world.
- Cross references to this parable?
Ezek 34:11-12
For thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 ” As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day.
Luke 19:10
10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”Â
Luke 15:5-7
5 “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.Â
Luke 15:22-24
22 “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;Â 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;Â 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.Â
- Questions or problems with the interpretation of this parable.
- What do the other nine silver coins represent?
- Â Why was the lady so eager to find the lost coin?
- Â Have you ever felt this way before?
- Â What does the lost coin represent?
- Â Do you feel this passionate about the reaching the lost?
- Â Do you reach out to “find” your lost friends or relatives?
- Â How does it make you feel that Christ seeks for the lost?
- Â Who took the initiative?
- Â How then should we respond to Christ?
- Based on this parable, what changes in my life does Jesus want me to make?
