One, it is the smallest of whole numbers. Yet, it is also used to signify the most important if you are slated as number one. If you are talking about money, it is insignificant. However, the Bible speaks of one as being very important.
In Luke 15:1-2, Jesus is speaking to tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, scribes, and His own disciples. This was definitely a mixed bag when it comes to lifestyles, social status, and wealth. The tax collectors, called publicans, were hired by the Roman government to collect taxes due to the government. The tax collectors were known for collecting more than was due and pocketing the extra. They were hated by the people. They were usually more financially stable than most. Two noted tax collectors in scripture were Matthew, one of the 12 called by Jesus, and Zacchaeus who sought Jesus out and was saved. The sinners refer to those who were living in known sin. They would include prostitutes, adulterers, and those who were of a base reputation. Note, man makes a distinction between sinners, God does not. We are all sinners. The Pharisees were separated as exclusively religious. They were the leaders of their religion. The scribes were those who wrote copies of the scriptures. The scribes and Pharisees were both very educated in the scriptures and the law. Paul, before salvation, was a noted Pharisee. These men were elevated socially and felt superior to others.
Luke 15:1-2 “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners and eats with them.
Jesus begins to teach the value of a soul. He begins with the parable of one lost sheep. This was a dilemma that could easily be understood by his audience. Shepherds and sheep were common in the region. The emphasis here was even if you had 99 you would still seek to save the one.
Luke 15:4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he finds it?”
Then Jesus turns His attention to a woman who lost one of her ten coins. Women were not treated as equals to men so it would have caused the ears to perk up when Jesus begin to use her as an illustration of how much God cares for us.
The silver coin was called a drachma and its value was about fifteen cents. That is not much in our economy. It probably was not much in her economy but when all you have is ten pieces, the value of one takes on a different meaning than it does for someone who has a hundred pieces. She would feel the loss greatly.
In verse 8 we see the diligence of the woman to find the lost coin. She first lights a candle. This also reveals the value to her of the coin. She must expend the cost of the oil or candle to find the coin. The light will expose what is hidden. The closer the light gets to the coin the easier it is to see it. Jesus declares himself to be the Light of the world in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.” When we are lost the Holy Spirit convicts us and the Light of the world exposes our sin to us and saves us.
Then she sweeps the house. She doesn’t look here and there but sweeps so that she can get into every corner or under anything where it may be hidden. She is diligent and does not stop pursuing the coin until it is found. Jesus also pursues us. In Luke 19:10 Jesus said, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
In these parables Jesus wanted His audience, the religious leaders, sinners, publicans, and scribes, to understand His desire to save the lost. God sent Him to make a way for us to be found.
When the shepherd found his sheep and the woman found her coin, they each rejoiced. They called everyone around them to celebrate the finding of the one. They could have been content to tend the 99 sheep and pocket the 9 coins, but they were not content until all were found.
The same is true for a sinner that repents and surrenders their life to the Father. The angels rejoice over anyone that is saved or a child that is wayward and comes home before it is too late.
Luke 15:8-10 “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? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors 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 repents.”
I am so thankful I serve a God who sees me as an individual and loves me enough to pursue me. I am so thankful for His patience and His convicting Spirit. God doesn’t need me, and He doesn’t need you, but oh how we need Him.
