Parable of the Lost Coin
Author: Steve Amato
Keywords: bible study,parable, jesus, gospel, lost coin, seek

翻译: English 中文 Big5

# 失落的钱币

路加福音１５：８－１０ Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma coin, wouldn't light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.' Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting." (web)

# 问题讨论

Whose fault was it that the coin was lost?
Describe a situation in which you thought you lost something and then found it.
How did you feel?
Who does the coin represent?
Why is there no sense of condemnation here, while in many of his parables and teachings he speaks of condemnation of those who have deviant behavior?
How does this differ from the parable of the lost sheep?

# 注释

This parable follows the parable of the lost sheep. And precedes the parable of the lost son. These all emphasize the priority of what is lost over what is not lost and the reaction to being found. Who does the lost coin represent? Basically Israel. See the study guide on the lost sheep for details.

## God's Attitude Towards the Repentant

In expressing his attitude towards the repentant, the concepts of "fault" and "guilt" and "blame" are removed. In particular the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin view those lost who have been found, as victims rather than as criminals. Not that they weren't actually guilty and subject to condemnation, but as repentant sinners, all the guilt of sin is removed. God is not ashamed at them, but filled with joy. There is not wrath for the repentant. And to show he is not ashamed of them, he affirms them in public expressing his joy over them.

Though Christians may have a shameful past, all is forgotten. For the New Covenant promise is "Their sins and the their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Heb 10:17 Christ doesn't simply reluctantly receive the repentant into the kingdom out of a sense of obligation, he does so joyfully - even much to the surprise of the redeemed. So should we treat other believers.

Yet often the value of repentance is trivialized. In what may be considered by today's standards, the male chauvinist attitude of the Jewish society in Jesus' day, men considered it somewhat silly how women get excited over such trivial things. And how they can spend hours talking with their friends all excited over what men would consider trivial matters! So Jesus used this illustration to say that what we may consider trivial as someone repenting, is quite exciting to the angels.

# Rap

Suppose a woman has ten coins and then loses one Wouldn't she look for it as if it were her son? And when she does find it, she calls all her friends So do angels rejoice over one sinner who repents