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

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Jul 6, 2023
68
11
8
#41
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.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, but connecting the woman/ten coins parable to the sheep in Ezekiel 37: 15-28 is confusing. Especially in light of the context of the conversation in Luke 15 where Jesus is talking to Pharisees/teaches of the Law and other sinners about why He welcomes and eats with sinners. Also only one coin is lost the other nine are found so how does that metaphorically represent ten lost tribes?
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
5,770
2,256
113
#43
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

The value of the forgiven debts being roughly equal in value is taken from a variety of sources including scriptures.

We don't have a commodity based economy and haven't for a long time. But yes...equal. the values are based on roughly availability/supply and calorie denseness. Also some of the values are part of the TORAH.

And as far as "God in us"....that is true but it still does NOT mean that we are equal with God in any fashion, shape or ability.

And just because we have the Holy Spirit we do NOT control God's Power whatsoever...we might have God's ear....but we don't (and should know better than to even attempt to try) handle things that belong to God.
 
Jul 6, 2023
68
11
8
#44
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
Thank you for your response. But it does not answer my question: "Metaphorically speaking who does the woman in Luke 15:8 represent?
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
12,981
5,203
113
#45
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.)
yeah brother all I meant to say is the people in the parables are just concepts they aren’t actual people being identified

hes teaching both sinners nd self righteous about how God deals with people

sin each of those three parables brother what I’m saying is Godnis represented as e authority the owner of the sheep , the woman who lost a coin , the father who’s in went away from him into a sinful life

God is simply being represented in a teaching were beginning to hear the truth of how God sees sinners d what his will for them is , and also we’re learning not to be like Pharisees and judge people who are coming near to hear Jesus who loves and desires them to come closer

if you read the whole chapter as Jesus trying to teach th whole group something it’s what parables are for to begin to understand God the father the gospel Jesus teachings and parables like that it’s this

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

as a sinner does this

“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

religious folk tend to forget they were sinners too and sometimes they react like this when they see a “ sinner “ coming near to the lord

“And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus then tells three stories about God and sinners coming to repentance . It’s th re so a believer can begin toninderstsnd how God sees them that he doesn’t hate them because they had sinned but he knows and is trying to save them from the result coming upon all sinners

i was just saying the woman on the story. Is a concept about God he isn’t a woman with coins or a shepherd with sheep he is God and is trying to save sinners thise three stories begin to explain that to us

some hear “ repentance “ and don’t understand it jesus is trying to teach something to believers there
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
12,981
5,203
113
#46
Thank you for your response. But it does not answer my question: "Metaphorically speaking who does the woman in Luke 15:8 represent?
It’s not a metaphor though is the thing

It’s always Jesus teaching believers about God and the kingdom of God I’m. Ot really sure why your trying to identify a concept in a story about repentance

In all three stories God is the authority figure the woman the owner of the sheep and the father all three stories are about th same concept God seeking to save sinners not destroy them or disown them

hes saying if one of you who believes on me gets lost I’ll find you like a shepherd would his sheep

hes saying if one of you gets lost I’ll seek for you like a woman who lost a coin and sought until she found it with joy

as d he’s saying your my children even though you’ve done so much wrong come home and be loved and welcomed


its a true concept understanding of God
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
6,285
1,805
113
#47
Each coin is a day's wage, so the woman diligently searches for it even though she still has 9 days wages to work with. It's still valuable to her considering the time and energy invested in acquiring it, as much as the other 9. This parable, along with the other two, is in answer to the Pharisees and scribes' comment on His welcoming sinners and eating with them (dining together is an intimate and joyful event).
His attitude about the lost is never to shrug it off like it was no loss at all. He'll always go out after, search for, and look forward to, their return.
 
Jun 20, 2022
6,460
1,330
113
#48
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?
no, i didn't actually provide an answer. i just was shocked i had not noticed how precise Jesus described the actions of at least one Woman, but knowing many women, He did basically describe them all.

but i agree with the lost sheep metaphor here. lose one, leave the 99 to find the 1.
lose 1 coin, put the other coins away and go find the one coin.
it's all saying the same thing.
 

Grace911

Active member
Nov 11, 2018
585
147
43
#49
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, but connecting the woman/ten coins parable to the sheep in Ezekiel 37: 15-28 is confusing. Especially in light of the context of the conversation in Luke 15 where Jesus is talking to Pharisees/teaches of the Law and other sinners about why He welcomes and eats with sinners. Also only one coin is lost the other nine are found so how does that metaphorically represent ten lost tribes?
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

The lost sheep of the house of Israel are the Gentiles of the nations that we are waiting to "come in", ie. fulness of the Gentiles.

The Pharisees/teachers hated any association with the house of Israel/ie Gentiles of the nations. However, Jesus/Yeshua certainly had no problem associating with them.

Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

If there is no understanding of the Two Houses, then the parables become lost to their true meaning. Everything Jesus/Yeshua taught in His parables was in regard to bring in the lost sheep so that the Two Houses can be reunited.

This is why He said unto His disciples that they have been given understanding of the parables and everyone else hear but don't understand.
 

Grace911

Active member
Nov 11, 2018
585
147
43
#50
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, but connecting the woman/ten coins parable to the sheep in Ezekiel 37: 15-28 is confusing. Especially in light of the context of the conversation in Luke 15 where Jesus is talking to Pharisees/teaches of the Law and other sinners about why He welcomes and eats with sinners. Also only one coin is lost the other nine are found so how does that metaphorically represent ten lost tribes?
When you say only one is lost of the ten, this also reminds me that only one commandment has been lost. It will be a day of rejoicing when the woman/ie church finds that lost commandment (the fourth commandment...Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.)
 
Jul 6, 2023
68
11
8
#52
It’s not a metaphor though is the thing

It’s always Jesus teaching believers about God and the kingdom of God I’m. Ot really sure why your trying to identify a concept in a story about repentance

In all three stories God is the authority figure the woman the owner of the sheep and the father all three stories are about th same concept God seeking to save sinners not destroy them or disown them

hes saying if one of you who believes on me gets lost I’ll find you like a shepherd would his sheep

hes saying if one of you gets lost I’ll seek for you like a woman who lost a coin and sought until she found it with joy

as d he’s saying your my children even though you’ve done so much wrong come home and be loved and welcomed


its a true concept understanding of God
 
Jul 6, 2023
68
11
8
#53
Thank you for your opinion. I guess we will simply have to agree to disagree.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
15,720
5,580
113
62
#54
It is bound with the parable immediately before it, the lost sheep that the Shepard seeks out, finds, and carries home on His shoulder, also rejoicing.

clearly that Shepherd is the Good one, the Son, and the one who was lost is us sinners, about which the chapter opens with complaining that He sat with us, ate with us and communed with us - not being sullied by us as it was supposed.

No one worries about getting their hands dirty pulling a treasure from the dirt, do they?

perhaps this woman is like the Shepherd's Bride, for she sees what He does and takes part in His work with Him. for when the angel tells John, come I will show you the Bride of The Lamb, what does he see but heavenly Jerusalem?
What about the story that comes after it as well. It says Jesus told a parable. Perhaps the parable was a trilogy.
 
Jul 6, 2023
68
11
8
#55
.

There's any number of ways to interpret Jesus' parables, but according to
Matt 13:11 the correct interpretation is privileged.
_
Yes I agree understanding the correct interpretation of Jesus parables is a privilege of His disciples.

no, i didn't actually provide an answer. i just was shocked i had not noticed how precise Jesus described the actions of at least one Woman, but knowing many women, He did basically describe them all.

but i agree with the lost sheep metaphor here. lose one, leave the 99 to find the 1.
lose 1 coin, put the other coins away and go find the one coin.
it's all saying the same thing.
Still no response to my question.
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
6,285
1,805
113
#58
Looking over the various commentaries provided at Bible Hub, I came across a view offer by Bengel's Gnomen that suggests the woman "signifies Wisdom, or else Koheleth...: or else (a Hebrew word that looks like 'raphah'?), the Holy Spirit, even as the son is alluded to in the 4th verse, and the Father in the 11th verse," and went back to see the problem George71 posed with this view when jb offered it. Namely, that Jesus asked the scribes and pharisees, "what man among you, if he had 100 sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the pasture and goes after the one that is lost, until he finds it?," ...and continues, "Or what woman that has that has 10 silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it?"

If the answer to these rhetorical questions is anything but, "no man among you in any pasture," and "no women in any house," then it would seem relevant exactly who she represents unless the answer is actually, "only a certain one."

However, Jesus follows up these parables with the parable of the man with the two sons that is cross-referenced with Deuteronomy 18:21 directing both father and mother to deliver a rebellious son to the elders of the city to be stoned to death in order to "purge the evil from among you." and reveals the outcome that directly contrasts with the prescribed treatment of such a sinner (that these scribes and pharisees would have believed to be of more appropriate response). Here, Jesus reveals the true nature of Father.

So, it would be fitting that Jesus' questions, what man or woman among you would care more than God for all that is His, whether secured or lost? 100 and 10 have something to do with wholeness or completeness if I'm not mistaken.
 
Jul 6, 2023
68
11
8
#59
Looking over the various commentaries provided at Bible Hub, I came across a view offer by Bengel's Gnomen that suggests the woman "signifies Wisdom, or else Koheleth...: or else (a Hebrew word that looks like 'raphah'?), the Holy Spirit, even as the son is alluded to in the 4th verse, and the Father in the 11th verse," and went back to see the problem George71 posed with this view when jb offered it. Namely, that Jesus asked the scribes and pharisees, "what man among you, if he had 100 sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the pasture and goes after the one that is lost, until he finds it?," ...and continues, "Or what woman that has that has 10 silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it?"

If the answer to these rhetorical questions is anything but, "no man among you in any pasture," and "no women in any house," then it would seem relevant exactly who she represents unless the answer is actually, "only a certain one."

However, Jesus follows up these parables with the parable of the man with the two sons that is cross-referenced with Deuteronomy 18:21 directing both father and mother to deliver a rebellious son to the elders of the city to be stoned to death in order to "purge the evil from among you." and reveals the outcome that directly contrasts with the prescribed treatment of such a sinner (that these scribes and pharisees would have believed to be of more appropriate response). Here, Jesus reveals the true nature of Father.

So, it would be fitting that Jesus' questions, what man or woman among you would care more than God for all that is His, whether secured or lost? 100 and 10 have something to do with wholeness or completeness if I'm not mistaken.
Thank you for your informative response.

I don't think the woman represents God as metaphors for God are usually masculine (but I could be mistaken). The woman could represent wisdom. And she certainly acts with wisdom to search for her lost coin. While a search through Proverbs found multiple references to silver (Proverbs 2:4; 3:14; 8:10 etc.) none are tied to 10 coins. There are verses in Leviticus 27 concerning special vows to dedicate a person to the Lord by giving equivalent value where 10 silver coins are associated with females. In 27:5 a female between the ages of 5 and 20 is valued at 10 silver shekels and in 27:7 a woman 60 years old or older is also valued at 10 silver shekels. If prior to being dedicated one of the 10 coins became lost the person could not be specially dedicated.

It is also possible that the woman metaphorically represents a city or country. The prophets have multiple examples where the Lord references daughter Zion (Jer 4:31), daughter Jerusalem (Isa 37:22), daughter Babylon (Zec 2:7). The ten silver coins would suggest a city/country dedicated to a redemptive (silver) covenant (binding agreement) relationship (such a Israel's redemptive covenant relationship with their Redeemer/Lord in accordance with the Decalogue). Finding the coin would represent restoration of that relationship. Of course the Pharisees/teachers of the Law should be well acquainted with all this if they had paid attention during their schooling.

I agree in the end the owner that seeks lost sheep is Christ. What is your view of the 99 sheep left in the open country?
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
6,285
1,805
113
#60
What is your view of the 99 sheep left in the open country?
Thinking in terms of the choice to stay with the 99 or go after the one lost sheep, and assuming that most would make that choice whether sooner or later, the decision to go after the lost sheep is most likely influenced by the degree of safety involved in the perspective situations, and the lone sheep would be in one of a more immediate risk of danger of harm. The 99 are in an open field which means that, although they are vulnerable to harm if left without the shepherd, he can still keep a watchful eye on them knowing where they are whereas the one sheep is lost so its whereabouts are unknown. Additionally, I assume it would be contingent upon the shepherd finding the sheep that he would have to leave the 99 in order to focus on hearing the single lamb's bleating.

The female valued of 10 shekels angle is interesting, but I don't think even a single coin of silver was considered trivial enough to leave lost, like we might let a nickel, dime, or penny roll under the counter without exerting much effort to retrieve it. However, if a silver ounce, I don't know how much they're worth these days, as much as $25 or maybe only $17, fell down the sink drain, who among us would immediately rummage through the toolbox for a wrench?