Metaphorically speaking, who is the woman with the ten silver coins in Luke 15: 8-10?

[Pilgrimshope]

I already have a possible response but my daughter insists that the proper and polite way to start a conversation is with a question.

it’s a concept about God coming to seek and save the lost sinners of the world by calling then to repentance

If one read the whole chapter you can really see it

“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? ( he’s talking about God and sinners )

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

(The last section is the point of the story about a sheep and the sheep owner then Jesus repeats the concept to deepen the lesson same concept again another example in a parabolic story )

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?( god seeking to save lost sinners )

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.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:1-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

again the last part is the point of the story about the woman and her lost coin Jesus is trying to teach these people how God sees sinners and is trying to seek and save them finally there is a third story very long one with the same concept but is showing also the sinners role in turning away from thier sins and returning to God who’s waiting with open arms

It’s very long but worth the read one of my favorite teaching stories from the lord here’s where this one concludes the sinner . the young prodigal does everything wrong and leaves into a life of sin and indulgence and wastes his inheritance but then hits rock bottom and realizes he’s made a huge mistake and so he returns to his father and finds this

“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:20-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

what I’m saying is the sheep and coins and two sons are people the lost ones lost thier way but God still loves them and wants them to come home he will welcome us and accept us if we do

that whole chapter is about a concept of how “ righteous religious “ people look at and treat sinners d then How Jesus our lord looked at and treated sinners who’d lost thier way teaching them repentance and life through God the fathers love towards man

he came to teach us those true concepts

 

[JohnDB]

Love your post! Is this found in Scripture or Jewish tradition/writings?

Traditions and writings...AKA anthropology studies.

 

[George71]

What evidence is there for this assertion?

A farmer sowing seed is a real event repeated many times each spring/planting season.

 

[George71]

Traditions and writings...AKA anthropology studies.

do you have any thoughts on where in OT scripture the tradition originates?

 

[Locoponydirtman]

A farmer sowing seed is a real event repeated many times each spring/planting season.

That dont make it a specific person

 

[George71]

it’s a concept about God coming to seek and save the lost sinners of the world by calling then to repentance

If one read the whole chapter you can really see it

“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? ( he’s talking about God and sinners )

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

(The last section is the point of the story about a sheep and the sheep owner then Jesus repeats the concept to deepen the lesson same concept again another example in a parabolic story )

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?( god seeking to save lost sinners )

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.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:1-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

again the last part is the point of the story about the woman and her lost coin Jesus is trying to teach these people how God sees sinners and is trying to seek and save them finally there is a third story very long one with the same concept but is showing also the sinners role in turning away from thier sins and returning to God who’s waiting with open arms

It’s very long but worth the read one of my favorite teaching stories from the lord here’s where this one concludes the sinner . the young prodigal does everything wrong and leaves into a life of sin and indulgence and wastes his inheritance but then hits rock bottom and realizes he’s made a huge mistake and so he returns to his father and finds this

“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:20-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

what I’m saying is the sheep and coins and two sons are people the lost ones lost their way but God still loves them and wants them to come home he will welcome us and accept us if we do

that whole chapter is about a concept of how “ righteous religious “ people look at and treat sinners d then How Jesus our lord looked at and treated sinners who’d lost thier way teaching them repentance and life through God the fathers love towards man

he came to teach us those true concepts

I agree with your basic concept of what the parable means, God in Christ coming to seek and save that which is lost (i.e. sinners) by calling them to repentance. But initially, the person seeking the lost sheep in the parable is not Jesus. Jesus specifically identifies this person with those listening to him ("Suppose one of you has"). So Jesus has injected the Pharisees/teachers of the Law into the story. And He asks them a question about what they would do, i.e. don't you leave the 99 and go find the lost one? The Pharisees/teachers of the Law would think, "No I need to stay with the 99 to protect them from predators/thieves and keep them from straying. But Jesus continues on with the parable indicating that the owner of the sheep leaves the 99 to find a lost sheep. This is a novel concept to the Pharisees/teachers of the Law. In a way Jesus has now disqualified the Pharisees/teachers of the Law as the owner of the 100 sheep. Now the owner is someone who cares for the lost sheep. So the owner finds the lost sheep, goes home, and celebrates, leaving the 99 sheep in the open country. to fend for themselves. Doesn't He care for the 99 like He cares for the lost? The only way He would not care for the 99 would be if they really didn't exist.

Jesus ends the parable by stating "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent. Two important questions:

First: Are there any righteous people in that crowd listening to Him? If you search OT scriptures the answer is no.

Second: Why the word "more"? Because there is no rejoicing in Heaven over persons like the Pharisees/teachers of the Law who do not think they need to repent. So in addition to confirming that He came to seek and save that which was lost, He also was also making a statement to the Pharisees/teachers of the Law that there are no righteous people, ergo, they too are among the lost.

As to the woman with the 10 silver coins being a metaphor for God. That is a hard sell for me. First God doesn't lose things. People do. So she would represent a person or persons who have lost something.

So my initial question to you remains: who doe she metaphorically represent? (Perhaps we can discuss the father/two son portion at a latter time.)

 

[George71]

That dont make it a specific person

Agreed but it is a specific event

 

[The_Watchers_2017]

I tell ya, Jesus, really NAILED a PERFECT description of EVERY WOMAN alive:

8 Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she lose one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek carefully till she find it?

ever see your wife set her ring off and then think she's lost it and tear up the house only to find it on the window trim?

That Verse 8 is perfect to a "T"

 

[selahsays]

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? 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.

- Luke 15:8-10 (KJV)

Hi, George. According to how I was taught, Jesus is saying that if a woman has ten pieces of silver and she loses one piece, she will turn on the lights and earnestly search the home until she finds the missing piece. In this parable, the "woman" represents the Holy Spirit of God. ~ selah

 

[JohnDB]

do you have any thoughts on where in OT scripture the tradition originates?

Nope.
But realistically the woman is going to be responsible for your entire household. So giving her 10 days wages to hold is kinda a "nothing". And so long as she has all ten hand stamped coins (no machine made coins) when you go to marry her....all is gold.
There's also Usually a ketubah written and drawn up before the marriage is finalized. (Prenuptial agreement is a nothing by comparison of this contract that delineates explicitly in detail what is expected of each person during wedded life.)

"Engagement" to be married can last for years and even over a decade before the final actually being married.

Even a girl of 6 or 7 years old can be engaged easily by someone. Not always but could. Just depends on families. So having a headband worn around for a while and getting neglected while simply around her father's house is a distinct possibility. Also people would be watching to ensure she always wore the headband when in public.

Needless to say that engaged women tried to avoid going out just to hang out...she had a lot to lose by doing so. Because if she lost her husband before she even got married...it's not a good thing. Bride price goes down. Dowry goes up

 

[studentoftheword]

Thread title

Metaphorically speaking, who is the woman with the ten silver coins in Luke 15: 8-10?

My view ----
Jesus represents the woman in this Parable ---the coins represent people ----the Lost coin symbolizes the lost soul that God so diligently seeks out to return back to him and the whole of heaven rejoices when the lost soul repents and receives their salvation --

 

[Webers.Home]

.
The number "ten" shows up several times in the New Testament.

Ten thousand talents-- Matt 18:24
Ten apostles-- Matt 20:24
Ten maidens-- Matt 25:1
Ten talents-- Matt 25:28
Ten thousand soldiers-- Luke 14:31
Ten pieces of silver-- Luke 15:8
Ten lepers-- Luke 17:12
Ten days-- Acts 25:6
Ten thousand words-- 1Cor 14:19
Ten horns-- Rev 12:3
Ten crowns-- Rev 13:1
Ten kings-- Rev 17:12

BTW: There are ten commandments. (Ex 34:28)

* Human hands have ten fingers, and human feet have ten toes (usually)
_

 

[JohnDB]

Author, audience and themes are important with this section of parables.

Lost sheep....sin of ignorance
Lost coin........sin of negligence
Lost Son..........planned sin
Angry son.......sin of not forgiving/self righteousness

All these sins are listed least to greatest as to difficulty to repent from.

Shrewd manager was another one told to offset angry son. The values of the forgiven debts were equal in value. (Commodity based economy)

Meaning we can't forgive like God can (we are currently mortal) but exercising our capacity to its limits with everyone is what allows us to keep our position of "saved" with God.

That's the lesson of the four parables.

 

[birdie]

Yes I also love the joy expressed at the end, both human and angelic.

I agree that she could be Jerusalem but not the one above. Nothing is "lost" there so nothing/no one needs to be found there. Also the parable itself is spoken in response to the "muttering" Pharisees and teachers of the Law" mentioned in verse 1, who objected to Jesus welcoming/eating with sinners.

What are your thoughts on the ten silver coins?

Thanks George71, for your comments. The woman who is seeking the coin is not lost, so she could indeed be the Jerusalem above, since she is not the one who is lost. The coin is the one who is lost. To say that someone is the Jerusalem above is just another way of saying the church, the true believers, the bride of Christ. The true believers are sent to seek and to save the lost through Christ, through the gospel. Notice in the verses that you ask about, the candle is lit. That means Christ has given the Holy Spirit to the church to go forth with the gospel. In other words, there is Christ the light in the church to go forth with the good news of the gospel, which saves the lost who is then found.

I am no expert, but the silver coins could easily represent those whom Christ has paid the price for. True believers are bought with a price, Christ's death on the cross in their place. It is often said that silver represents redemption in the Bible. I notice that in Job 22 we read about silver: "Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver." In looking at silver as being a consequence of the defense provided by God, we might begin to understand silver as a metaphor, if you will.

 

[George71]

I tell ya, Jesus, really NAILED a PERFECT description of EVERY WOMAN alive:

8 Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she lose one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek carefully till she find it?

ever see your wife set her ring off and then think she's lost it and tear up the house only to find it on the window trim?

That Verse 8 is perfect to a "T"

I agree a woman who has lost money or jewelry does carefully look, even in the garbage (well actually if she's married she gets her husband to look in the garbage.)

So your answer is that she is metaphorically all women?

 

[George71]

Thanks George71, for your comments. The woman who is seeking the coin is not lost, so she could indeed be the Jerusalem above, since she is not the one who is lost. The coin is the one who is lost. To say that someone is the Jerusalem above is just another way of saying the church, the true believers, the bride of Christ. The true believers are sent to seek and to save the lost through Christ, through the gospel. Notice in the verses that you ask about, the candle is lit. That means Christ has given the Holy Spirit to the church to go forth with the gospel. In other words, there is Christ the light in the church to go forth with the good news of the gospel, which saves the lost who is then found.

I am no expert, but the silver coins could easily represent those whom Christ has paid the price for. True believers are bought with a price, Christ's death on the cross in their place. It is often said that silver represents redemption in the Bible. I notice that in Job 22 we read about silver: "Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver." In looking at silver as being a consequence of the defense provided by God, we might begin to understand silver as a metaphor, if you will.

I think you are correct about silver representing redemption. But what about the coin? It is silver which represents redemption but it is an inanimate object. Typically the Scripture represents people with live items such as sheep. Although Jesus does represent unsaved people as dirt (parable of the sower). But that is also kind of represents people as we are made of dirt. In OT silver coins are used to redeem things (for an interesting example see Leviticus 27:1-7, pay special attention to v4 and v7). And there are ten of them. Any thoughts on what the number "ten" represents?

 

[George71]

Thanks George71, for your comments. The woman who is seeking the coin is not lost, so she could indeed be the Jerusalem above, since she is not the one who is lost. The coin is the one who is lost. To say that someone is the Jerusalem above is just another way of saying the church, the true believers, the bride of Christ. The true believers are sent to seek and to save the lost through Christ, through the gospel. Notice in the verses that you ask about, the candle is lit. That means Christ has given the Holy Spirit to the church to go forth with the gospel. In other words, there is Christ the light in the church to go forth with the good news of the gospel, which saves the lost who is then found.

I am no expert, but the silver coins could easily represent those whom Christ has paid the price for. True believers are bought with a price, Christ's death on the cross in their place. It is often said that silver represents redemption in the Bible. I notice that in Job 22 we read about silver: "Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver." In looking at silver as being a consequence of the defense provided by God, we might begin to understand silver as a metaphor, if you will.

So you are viewing this passage as prophecy and not a response to the mutterings of the Pharisees/teachers of the Law? Cause the Church had not yet come into being and the Church had not yet received the Holy Spirit.

Also there are no lost in Jerusalem above or among those who believe

Also a coin is an inanimate/dead object used to buy/redeem things. Usually metaphorically speaking people are represented by things that are alive such as sheep, goats etc. . In Job 22 the person there is Job and he has silver coin (i.e. a defense against poverty). And I can think of one example where spiritually dead people are represented by dirt (parable of the sower). And your response does not address that the parable is specific about the number of coins i.e. ten coins.

 

[ResidentAlien]

The point of the parable is there is rejoicing in heaven over a sinner who repents.

 

[Grace911]

A parable of ten coins and a woman. I immediately think of the ten being of the "lost sheep of the house of Israel". The ten tribers are scattered throughout the whole earth. They are Gentiles of the Nations who are the Christian church today. The woman is the Christian church and when all ten (tribes) are back together there will be great rejoicing because then the ten can be joined with the two of the house of Judah.

I Will Be Their God, They Shall Be My People

Ezekiel 37:15 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
18 And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?
19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
20 And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.
21 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:
22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:
23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.
24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.
25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.
26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.
27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
28 And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

 

[George71]

Author, audience and themes are important with this section of parables.

Lost sheep....sin of ignorance
Lost coin........sin of negligence
Lost Son..........planned sin
Angry son.......sin of not forgiving/self righteousness

All these sins are listed least to greatest as to difficulty to repent from.

Shrewd manager was another one told to offset angry son. The values of the forgiven debts were equal in value. (Commodity based economy)

Meaning we can't forgive like God can (we are currently mortal) but exercising our capacity to its limits with everyone is what allows us to keep our position of "saved" with God.

That's the lesson of the four parables.

I agree that Author, audience and themes are important.

99 sheep that were left in the open country .. sin of self-righteousness
A women with only 9 of 10 silver coins who does not search - guilty of the sin of self righteousness.
A son who shames his father by demanding his share of the inheritance before the death of said father is guilty of the sin of self righteousness.
A son who shames his father by not celebrating the "rebirth" of his brother at the father's request is guilty of the sin of self righteousness.

In conclusion all sin has an element of self-righteousness in it.

Off set - 1.Anything which counterbalances or or compensates for something else. 2.An extension, branch, spur, or offshoot. Please explain how the parable of the shrewd manger counterbalances/compensates for the angry son. Or is an extension, branch spur or offshoot of the angry son.

How is it known that the values of the forgiveness commodity debts are of the same value?

Without God we can not forgive like God does! With God we can. Does not the Holy Spirit indwell us to give us the power to forgive as God does? Or are you trying to be saved without God in you?