Luke 15:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “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?

NIV: Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn't she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

NASB: 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?

CSB: "Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?

NLT: Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it?

KJV: 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?

NKJV: “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?

Jesus continues to challenge religious leaders to see sinners as God does. The Pharisees have watched several times as Jesus interacted with Jews who have lived an ungodly life. They see a man who claims to teach God's truth interacting with people whose lifestyle indicates rejection of those teachings. They think Jesus' engagement is an endorsement of their lifestyle. They don't recognize a rescue mission (Luke 5:31–32; 15:1–2).

Jesus responds with three parables. First, He talks about how some of these sinners made foolish choices. They're like a sheep that left its loving shepherd and wandered off into danger. What good shepherd wouldn't go after the sheep and rejoice once it was safe with the flock again (Luke 15:3–7)?

Now, Jesus tells a parable referring to those who don't realize they are separated from God. In this parable of the lost coin, Jesus describes a coin that has gone missing. The woman who owns the coin, worth about a day's wages, has nine more, but that doesn't mean she doesn't want to find the one. She scours the house until she finds it. When she does, she invites her friends and family to celebrate with her. The legalistic Pharisees need to rejoice when the lost are found, not question the woman's motives for searching for the coin (Luke 15:9–10).

Luke 15:8–10 continues Jesus' three parables about lost things, here speaking of a coin. In this analogy, the sinner is like a lost coin that doesn't know it needs rescuing. When the woman finds the coin, she invites her neighbors to celebrate with her, like how heaven rejoices when a sinner repents. The prior parable referred to those who leave God for foolish reasons (Luke 15:3–7); the last describes sinners who intentionally rebel against God (Luke 15:11–32). When any sinner repents and returns to his Father, God is eager to restore their relationship. These parables are unique to Luke's writing.

To answer criticisms that He associates with sinners, Jesus tells three parables. A shepherd leaves ninety-nine sheep to rescue a single lost member. A woman searches diligently to locate a lost coin. A father eagerly forgives his wayward son when the young man returns in humility and repentance. All these lead to celebration. In the same way, Jesus teaches that God cares about restoring those who have fallen, and we should mirror His joy whenever that happens.

Luke 15 contains three parables with the theme of something "lost." The lost sheep, coin, and son represent sinners who leave God foolishly, unknowingly, or rebelliously. God seeks the foolish and the ignorant and waits patiently for the rebel to return to Him in humble repentance. Next is a collection of teachings on the differences between worldly and kingdom living (Luke 16:1—17:10). After two more groups of a miracle, teachings on the kingdom, and teachings on salvation (Luke 17:11—19:27), Jesus will enter Jerusalem and prepare for the crucifixion.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.