Nov. 5, Parable of the Hidden Treasure, Matthew 13:44
Again, two parables teach very similar messages. The Parable of the Hid Treasure and the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price are both short and speak about the joy and worth of the Kingdom to believers.
Here is a quick review of the context of the parables in Matthew chapter 13. They are seven in number, and all refer to differing responses to the Word of the Kingdom. In The Sower: some don’t believe, some receive initially but don’t last, some receive but don’t mature, and some receive, mature, and return a manifold harvest.
The Tares (Weeds) explain the presence of evil (false, pretending believers) among the faithful. The Mustard Seed teaches us of the growth from small beginnings. Leaven (Yeast) focuses us on the power and thoroughness of the Word of the Kingdom. The Hid Treasure and Pearl of Great Price speak of the joy with which true believers receive the Kingdom. The Drag Net describes the final separation of good and evil.
In the Hid Treasure, those who will become true believers value the Kingdom of God so much that they sell all to possess it. Imagine how evangelists almost force feed the Gospel message, but those truly drawn by the Holy Spirit joyfully sacrifice all to respond to the Word of the Kingdom. We will examine this more deeply tomorrow as we look at the Pearl of Great Price.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”—Matthew 13:44
Jesus said the "Kingdom of Heaven is within you".
ReplyDeleteThat is, the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. This is the treasure that is priceless.
The fruit of the Spirit growing in our lives and that we are 'sealed' with that promise until the day of redemption. None of us are deserving of recieving the gift of God's presence that he has given us, yet by grace through faith He gives us a treasure of immeasurable worth. This is certainly a treasure greater than any amount of money or material possession and that is deserving of our priority, financial resources, commitment, and time.
It's interesting that before this man found the treasure hidden in the field, someone must have told him that the treasure was there and through faith, be believed that promise, searched for it and found it. Then he secured his fortune by purchasing that field.
It would be foolish to think that we can purchase the kingdom of God - even by selling everything to follow Christ - which few Christians that I know have done.
However, that price for possessing the treasure
of being a part of the kingdom of God has already been purchased by the blood of Jesus.
Amen! Well said, Ed.
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