Hidden Treasure

Matthew 13:34-44

The key to understanding all of this is that Jesus is speaking to His disciples in private, and He’s saying to them in Matthew 13:11, “It’s not given to them to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to you it is given.” Jesus is going to give them something encouraging because there’s history and prophecy here, and we’re going to see that the treasure hid in the field is the nation of Israel.

I. A Peculiar Treasure:

a. Israel is a peculiar sovereignly chosen by God. (Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 14:2; Psalm 135:4) God says Israel is chosen, and Israel is a peculiar treasure. He has set His affection upon them. Israel is God’s prophetic timeclock. As Israel goes, so goes the world. Study the Bible, and you won’t find much about America; but you will find repeatedly about God’s peculiar treasure, which is Israel.

II. A Hidden Treasure:

a. Now this is God’s treasure, but it was covered in the field, in the world. When Jesus came into this world, Israel was lost unto her original plan and purpose. The kingdom God promised His people, the kingdom of heaven, was unrealized. Israel was under the dominion of Rome and for 400 years they’ve been an insignificant nation, subjects of Rome, the temple overrun with corruption. Jesus called them the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:24).

III. A Purchased Treasure:

a. Israel is a treasure that has been purchased by God. When Jesus came to this earth, He displayed for 3 ½ years the kingdom of heaven. He revealed the treasure. The kingdom is uncovered. There is a glimpse of glory. There is the Lord doing miracles in their midst. But they’re blind to that reality, and the kingdom is buried again. And Jesus is now speaking to them in parables, not only to reveal, but also to conceal. The kingdom was refused, and the Lord that had chosen the treasure, uncovered the treasure, and then covers it back again. But now Jesus is going to reveal the treasure, cover it back up again, and go to redeem that treasure. He’s the One Who paid the price to buy the field (1 Peter 1:18–19; John 3:16).

b. (Matthew 23:37-39) One day the scales will fall from Israel’s eyes, like they fell from the Apostle Paul’s eyes, and when they see Him, they’ll say, “Blessed”—“Blessed”—“is He that comes in the name of the Lord.” God never changes His mind when He makes a solemn promise. God is coming back for His treasure (Romans 11:25-29; Psalm 89:27-37; Jeremiah 31:35-37; Malachi 3:3-4, 17-18; Zechariah 13:1,9).

c. Now, what does that mean to us? First, that everything’s on schedule. Second, if God kept His word to Abraham, He’ll will keep His Word to us. If God has sovereignly kept His word to Israel, we’re on good ground. Third, I strongly believe, that the signs of the times are telling us that our Lord is just about to step out of the glory and uncover the treasure that He’s bought.