Lesson 21 – The Lost Coin

“Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.” Isaiah 43:4.

“The coin, though lying among dust and rubbish, is a piece of silver still. Its owner seeks it because it is of value. So every soul, however degraded by sin, is in God’s sight accounted precious. As the coin bears the image and superscription of the reigning power, so man at his creation bore the image and superscription of God; and though now marred and dim through the influence of sin, the traces of this inscription remain upon every soul. God desires to recover that soul and to retrace upon it His own image in righteousness and holiness.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 194.

PATH TO PERDITION

1.Although the first human being was made in God’s image as the crown of creation, what happened to him? How did the prophet Isaiah describe mankind’s terrible state?

Psalm 8:4-6. What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? ⁵For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. ⁶Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.

Romans 5:12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

Isaiah 64:6. But we are all as an un- clean thing, and all our righteous- nesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

“This is true home missionary work, and it is as helpful to those who do it as to those for whom it is done. By our faithful interest for the home circle we are fitting ourselves to work for the members of the Lord’s family, with whom, if loyal to Christ, we shall live through eternal ages. For our brethren and sisters in Christ we are to show the same interest that as members of one family we have for one another.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 196.

2.Why did the Pharisees despise the tax collectors? Who made it possible for the prodigal publicans to return to the eternal Father?

2 Peter 2:20, 22. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning….²²But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Luke 18:11; 19:5, 9. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. ^19:5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house…. ⁹And Je- sus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

“Among the publicans there was a confederacy, so that they could op- press the people, and sustain one another in their fraudulent practices. In their extortion they were but carrying out what had become an almost universal custom. Even the priests and rabbis who despised them were guilty of enriching themselves by dishonest practices under cover of their sacred calling. But no sooner did Zacchaeus yield to the influence of the Holy Spirit than he cast aside every practice contrary to integrity.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 555.

3.How do the lost sheep feel? What does Jesus, the Good Shepherd, do when He finds the sheep that have strayed away from His flock?

Ezekiel 34:6, 11. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them…. ¹¹ For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

Romans 3:23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Ephesians 2:1, 2. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in tres- passes and sins; ²Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

“The lost sheep knows that it is lost. It has left the shepherd and the flock, and it cannot recover itself. It represents those who realize that they are separated from God and who are in a cloud of perplexity, in humiliation, and sorely tempted.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 193.

4.In the parable of the lost coin, why was the woman, not the householder, the one doing the searching? If the coin was received as a dowry, how would that compare to the gift that the church has been given?

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?

Ephesians 5:23. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Genesis 30:20. And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

“The wife’s marriage portion usually consisted of pieces of money, which she carefully preserved as her most cherished possession, to be transmitted to her own daughters. The loss of one of these pieces would be regarded as a serious calamity, and its recovery would cause great rejoicing, in which the neighboring women would readily share.

“The lost coin represents those who are lost in trespasses and sins, but who have no sense of their condition. They are estranged from God, but they know it not. Their souls are in peril, but they are unconscious and unconcerned. In this parable Christ teaches that even those who are indifferent to the claims of God are the objects of His pitying love. They are to be sought for that they may be brought back to God.

“The sheep wandered away from the fold; it was lost in the wilderness or upon the mountains. The piece of silver was lost in the house. It was close at hand, yet it could be recovered only by diligent search.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 193, 194.

PROTECTION AND SALVATION

5.What atmosphere permeates a home when the children are in danger? When she was left alone without her husband, what miracle was performed for the family of one of the sons of the prophets when the wife and her children carefully followed the prophet Elisha’s instructions in her time of need? What did the oil symbolize?

2 Kings 4:1, 5-7. Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen…. ⁵So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. ⁶And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a ves- sel more. And the oil stayed. ⁷Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

“Such is the grace of God, such the love wherewith He hath loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins, enemies in our minds by wicked works, serving divers lusts and pleasures, the slaves of debased appetites and passion, servants of sin and Satan. What depth of love is manifested in Christ, as He becomes the propitiation for our sins. Through the ministration of the Holy Spirit souls are led to find forgiveness of sins.”–Lift Him Up, p. 297.

ELIMINATING OBSTACLES THAT LEAD TO PERDITION

6.From what slavery does the spiritual oil free the repentant sinner? To find the lost coin, what three things did the woman do?

John 16:7, 8. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. ⁸And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.

Romans 6:18. Being then made free from sin, ye became the ser- vants of righteousness.

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?

“The woman in the parable searches diligently for her lost coin. She lights the candle and sweeps the house. She removes everything that might obstruct her search. Though only one piece is lost, she will not cease her efforts until that piece is found. So in the family if one member is lost to God every means should be used for his recovery. On the part of all the others let there be diligent, careful self-examination. Let the life-practice be investigated. See if there is not some mistake, some error in management, by which that soul is confirmed in impenitence.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 194.

7.What rubbish should be swept out of every church and home? What should the woman or church do when the lost coin is found?

James 3:3, 5, 6. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body…. ⁵Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! ⁶And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Psalm 119:9. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Luke 15:9, 10. 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. ¹⁰Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

“Many who listen to the preaching of the word of God make it the subject of criticism at home. They sit in judgment on the sermon as they would on the words of a lecturer or a political speaker. The message that should be regarded as the word of the Lord to them is dwelt upon with trifling or sarcastic comment. The minister’s character, motives, and actions, and the conduct of fellow members of the church, are freely discussed. Severe judgment is pronounced, gossip or slander repeated, and this in the hear- ing of the unconverted. Often these things are spoken by parents in the hearing of their own children. Thus are destroyed respect for God’s mes- sengers, and reverence for their message. And many are taught to regard lightly God’s word itself.

“Thus in the homes of professed Christians many youth are educated to be infidels. And the parents question why their children are so little inter- ested in the gospel, and so ready to doubt the truth of the Bible. They wonder that it is so difficult to reach them with moral and religious influences.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 45, 46.

For Additional Study

“If there is in the family one child who is unconscious of his sinful state, parents should not rest. Let the candle be lighted. Search the word of God, and by its light let everything in the home be diligently examined, to see why this child is lost. Let parents search their own hearts, examine their habits and practices. Children are the heritage of the Lord, and we are answerable to Him for our management of His property.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 194.