Losing It At Home

LOST AT HOME

Luke 15:8-10

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?

9 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.

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

Luke chapter 15 deals with parables concerning lost things:

A lost sheep

Lost silver

A lost son

The sheep was lost amongst the wiles of nature. (in the hills and hollers)

The piece of silver was lost within the house. (at home)

The son was lost to the temptations of the world. (away from home)

Verses one and two tell us that publicans, sinners, Pharisees, and scribes were all gathered to hear and scrutinize Jesus.

Jesus speaks of a woman having 10 peices of silver. These religious leaders scowled at the mention of a woman being used as a centerpiece of attention for a spairitual teaching.

It would seem that these pieces of silver do not refer to her cash on hand or her spending allowance.

They were most likely specially forged pieces of silver, thus they were distinct and limited.

Why did Jesus say a woman and not just a person?

Why could that piece of silver not have been replaced by a caring individual or charitable organization?

What about the importance of 10 pieces of silver?

The number 10 is used repeatedly throughout the Bible. It is found at least 242 times in the Word of God. The term tenth is found another 79 times.

10 appears to signify "perfection", "completion", and/or "responsibility" and "testing".

Even we understand the 1 to 10 rating, with 10 being perfect.

Bible instances using the number 10:

10 plagues of Egypt

10 commandments

10 degrees that the sundial went backwards

10 lavers, 10 lampstands, 10 tables in the Temple

10 lepers that Jesus healed

10 talents

10 virgins

By understanding some of the culture and customs of the Jews, especially in that day, will give us a better understanding.

When a man chose to marry a woman, the families would meet together and agree upon a dowry. Afterwards, the man would give his future bride 10 special pieces of silver. They were evidently very distinguishable, not to be confused with ordinary money of the day. She would sew them into the upper part of a veil that she would put on every time that she went out in public. Thus, it would be known that she was promised to another. The coins showed that she had been bought with a price and the veil signified she was sanctified and separated from the world.

Meanwhile, the groom would return to the home of his father. He would begin the tedious task of building a house, or bride chamber for himself and his bride. The architect and inspector of the project was the father of the groom. The young man could not run off and get married until all was in order. The house had to be the liking of the father and it had to be stocked with provisions for the 7 days that the newlyweds would be alone and enclosed in the bridechamber.

With the final okay from the father, and only then, the young man would rush off to retrieve his bride. Due to these Jewish customs, the bride knew that she had to be continually ready for that special day.

If she did not have all 10 pieces of silver on her veil, it would indicate that she may have become defiled or tainted. It would suggest that the relationship was fractured, that something was amiss.

The church is the bride of Christ. We have been bought with a price.

1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

We have been given something of value to show that we belong to Him.

Eph. 1:13,14 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. In some countries, the groom gives 10 "earnest" coins (arras) to his bride at the wedding ceremony.

The church also has its veil of sanctification. It is our separation from the things of the world and the world system.

2 Co. 6:16-18 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.