📖 Biblical Definition
Christ's parable in Luke 15:8-10, the second of three lost-and-found parables. A woman with ten pieces of silver loses one, lights a candle, sweeps the house, and seeks diligently until she finds it. She calls her friends and neighbors: Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Christ's application: Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
LOST COIN, n.
expand to see more
A scriptural parable of Christ; the lost coin.
📖 Key Scripture
Luke 15:8 — "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 15:9 — "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."
Luke 15:10 — "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
Luke 19:10 — "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often presumes the lost soul is hidden by accident; the woman swept the house deliberately.
expand to see more
The woman's search is diligent and total: she lights a candle, sweeps the house, seeks until she finds. Modern Christianity sometimes presumes that the lost soul will turn up if we wait passively. The woman did not wait. She actively searched until the coin was recovered.
The Spirit's seeking is similarly diligent. The Holy Spirit lights candles, sweeps houses, pursues souls. The believer is sometimes the candle, sometimes the broom, sometimes the angel-witness. Be available for the search; the joy in heaven over a recovered coin is worth the diligence.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek roots below.
expand to see more
G1406 — drachme — drachma; silver coin
G2212 — zeteo — to seek
Usage
"Modern Christianity presumes the lost will turn up; the woman swept the house deliberately."
"The Spirit lights candles and sweeps houses; the believer is the candle."
"Joy in heaven over a recovered coin is worth the diligence."