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Christ’s Object Lessons
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.
“When she hath found it,” Christ said, “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 repenteth.”
This parable, like the preceding, sets forth the loss of something
which with proper search may be recovered, and that with great joy.
But the two parables represent different classes. 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.
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
“My people have been lost sheep : their shepherds
have caused them to go astray, they have turned them
away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain
to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.”
Jeremiah
50:6
. “I have gone astray like a lost sheep ; seek Thy
servant ; for I do not forget Thy commandments.”
Psalm
119:176
.
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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 wilder-
ness 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.
This parable has a lesson to families. In the household there is
often great carelessness concerning the souls of its members. Among
their number may be one who is estranged from God; but how little
anxiety is felt lest in the family relationship there be lost one of God’s
entrusted gifts.
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