Today's Scripture
Insight
Jesus’ involvement with the outcasts of society offended the self-righteous Pharisees and the teachers of the law (Matthew 9:10; Luke 7:34; 15:1–2) who saw themselves as the only people deserving of heaven. In response, Jesus taught the three parables found in Luke 15: the lost sheep (vv. 3–7), the lost coin (vv. 8–10), and the lost son (vv. 11–32). All three stories follow a pattern—something is lost, a relentless search is undertaken, and there’s great rejoicing when the lost is found. These paint an unmistakable picture of the persistent and seeking God who relentlessly searches for us until we’re found. In the parable of the lost coin, “ten silver coins” (v. 8) was equivalent to only ten days’ wages for a common laborer but would constitute a significant portion of the woman’s livelihood, especially if she were poor or a widow. Some scholars suggest the coins were precious because they were part of a dowry, a headband of ten silver coins that signified marital status.
By: K. T. Sim
Comments