An Atheistic Bible Study Of The Parable Of The Lost Coin

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A minor parable of no interest to three of the Gospel authors at all but included by Luke (15:8–10). Jesus tells of a Greek woman who has ten coins, ten drachma in all. Somehow she loses one of the coins in her own house and searches for it by systematically sweeping up her until she sees where the coin has fallen to. She is so delighted to find the coin that she announces its rediscovery with all her neighbours and friends. Jesus compares this to a sinner (lost soul) coming back to the faith repentant and how the angels will be so happy about that one lost but then saved soul. As with other parables this doesn’t take much analysis to break it down. The woman has not lost her coin, but misplaced it in the home. She is confident that her search will eventually locate it. Had she lost it outdoors she might well have feared never seeing it again. I misplace cash, keys, my glasses, books, writing notes, etc. all the time but I know they are in the flat and I will eventually see them again. In most cases the details of the loss and re-discovery are so trivial I see no reason to tell anyone or everyone about it. It would be like having a whole Mylot pot about opening a tin of beans, complete with photos and a Youtube of the amazing miraculous event, reminding the World of it every year on the anniversary, (though I know people who are that boring). . A sinner repenting should be no big deal to Jesus, God, and their angels who are supposed to be all-seeing, and therefore able to find any of us anywhere and stop us sinning or doing anything they would rather we did not do. This is rather a rubbish parable for Jesus to share. Arthur Chappell