"The Priceless Value of Knowing Christ"
Notes
Transcript
Good Morning, if you have your Bibles would you turn with me to Matthew chapter 13. Over the past several weeks we have been talking about the parables of Jesus, and so we are going to look today at the hidden treasure and the Pearl of great Value. We are going to begin in verse 44. Matthew 13:44.
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
The title of the message today is, “The Priceless Value of Knowing Christ.” Buried treasure and finding valuable jewels is the stuff that we hear about in the movies. It’s like winning the lottery. Now I don’t play the lottery but I have heard about some of the folks who have won great sums of money. These two parables that we have just read about here helped us to see this point. In February 2014 a Northern California couple were walking their dog on their own property when they spotted something beginning to pop up from under the dirt of a pathway. It was a corroded tin can that had been buried years before. Digging it up, they found more cans, all containing gold coins, more than fourteen hundred coins total, valued at more than ten million dollars. The buried treasure had been found.
I tell us this story today to help illustrate my point and it is this, what is it that you value? Many of us have different views on what we think is valuable.
-For some it is riches.
-For some it is power.
-For some it is time or maybe relationships.
There are many things humans value.
In Matthew 13 here we see two different parables and yet similar in meaning. We see that Jesus asks what is our value system? In other words, what do we define as valuable? Here Jesus is teaching us about the Kingdom of God or as Matthew puts it, the kingdom of heaven. So, before we jump right into these parables I want to address several questions that jump out to us.
First, what is the kingdom of heaven? What does this mean? You see to find the kingdom of heaven is to find the one treasure that outweighs and out-values everything else. The kingdom of heaven is talked about many times in Jesus’s parables. We see this back in the Parable of the Weeds and the Mustard Seed and the Leaven. The kingdom of heaven is the place where Christ resides and where He rules and reigns. Those who belong to the kingdom of heaven have submitted and yielded their lives to Christ. So, to come into the kingdom of heaven, is to enter into eternal life. The kingdom of heaven carries the meaning of salvation. We see this clearly in Philippians chapter 3.
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
The Second Question is who is this parable for? Is this message just for the disciples? The crowd here that Jesus is speaking to in Matthew 13, has some potential disciples in it, so it does apply to them as well. All of this points us to see and to take seriously the commitment to discipleship. As a disciple of Christ we must count the cost to follow Him and take serious everything that this involves. So, this message is for those who are disciples of Christ. Now that we have clarified these questions I want to jump into this first parable to help us see what is going on.
Parable Number One:
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again many of us have seen movies about pirates finding treasure on some remote island. They have a map and in the end they find the buried treasure. Well in the ancient world it was not uncommon for many people to burry their money and treasure out back in their fields. This was a time where there were no national banks or first bank of Jerusalem. Many people had to hide their money by digging a hole in the ground. If a person died before recovering it, than years later like in this parable someone could find it and uncover the valuables.
In our parable here the worker of the field does not own the property where this treasure was. Now of course, we don’t have all the details about this but we do know that the man goes out and sells everything he has to buy this property. Why? Because once he owns the property, he will also own the treasure. The treasure will become his possession. Notice, that he doesn’t steal the treasure, he does everything he can to find enough money to buy the land and make it his possession.
Parable Number Two:
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Jesus now begins to tell us another parable about a jewelry merchant who specializes in selling pearls. In this part of the Ancient Near East, pearls were much more valuable than they are today. In fact, pearls during this time had more value than gold and diamonds and other jewels. What we know about this merchant is that he had a collection of pearls and one day he finds a pearl that is so valuable and so beautiful that it is far above his entire collection. It’s priceless!!! He knows that he has to have it. He knows that he has to sell his collection of pearls and other jewels in order to have the pearl of great price.
The main point in both of these parables is that if you find something so valuable, then it is worth selling everything you have in order to posses it. What Jesus is trying to help his disciples think about is how valuable do you think the kingdom of God is? How much value is salvation? You see the pearl of great price here is not about a jewel, it is about a person. And if you have trusted in Christ, you have everything.
I want to give you 4 takeaways about the kingdom of heaven today. These are 4 Things that we must understand about these 2 Parables.
1. The Kingdom of Heaven is Incomparable in Value.
1. The Kingdom of Heaven is Incomparable in Value.
When we stop to think about Christ and the kingdom he offers us this is truly an eternal treasure. Here is how Peter describes it.
4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
This treasure is reserved in heaven for all believers. What we see in both of these parables here is a fortune of incomparable value that represents the kingdom of God. The kingdom is eternal and is true and certain for God’s children. First Peter tells us that the kingdom of heaven is incorruptible and undefiled. It will last forever. You know why this is so important? Because everything else in this world will someday pass away. It will all burn up someday. It will all be gone, the fancy cars and homes and all my little league trophies everything will burn up someday, but the kingdom of heaven will be eternal. The kingdom of heaven is truly a wonderful treasure. You may be here today and wonder how can heaven be like this? Well here is how! This treasure includes many things:
-The treasure of Salvation.
-The treasure of Forgiveness.
-The treasure of God’s Perfect Love.
-The treasure of Joy.
-The treasure of Peace.
-Virtue.
-Goodness.
-Eternal Life in Heaven.
-But mostly this, “the presence of God.”
That is why salvation is the most treasured thing that can ever be found. If you don’t understand or have this treasure of salvation today will you call upon the name of Christ today? Would you confess your sin to him and submit your rebellious life to Him? Once you do this God can and will forgive you of all your sin and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Maybe today you are a believer and you have walked thru some discouraging times. May you be reminded today of what is to come and take hope in the fact that the kingdom of heaven is awaiting you.
2. The Kingdom of Heaven is not obvious to the normal looker.
2. The Kingdom of Heaven is not obvious to the normal looker.
The treasure was hidden, and the pearl had to be found by the merchant. My point here is that they were not obvious to the normal looker. This was so often the point of Jesus’s parables that the normal person would not understand the meaning. However the true meaning is there, and it is there for those who seek it and our willing to take notice. Jesus said in Luke that most people are not paying attention to the kingdom of heaven.
20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
These religious leaders were blinded because they were so bent on all the rules and regulations that they in fact missed Jesus the Savior, and His kingdom. You see these religious leaders were looking for warrior Savior who would fly in and rescue the Jews from the Cruel Roman oppression. Jesus says Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3) So, the kingdom of God and it’s true value were hidden from these religious leaders and their carnal minds. Romans 8:7, tells us that the carnal mind is enmity against God.
Unbelievers today don’t understand why Christians value heaven so highly. They don’t understand why Christians would submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ. They don’t understand why anyone would give up the pleasures of sin and the things of this world and live for Christ and heavenly treasures. This in fact goes against every instinct and desire of the fallen human heart. Sinners are not naturally inclined to seek God. So, when God invites and urges you to seek him do that.
6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Again, If you don’t have this wonderful treasure today would you call upon the Lord today.
3. The Kingdom of Heaven is a true source of joy.
3. The Kingdom of Heaven is a true source of joy.
Verse 44 tells us that in his joy the man went and sold all that he had to buy the field where the treasure was at. The mention of joy is very significant here. We know that joy of course is a very good thing. Jesus himself said this in John 15.
11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
We also see this again in chapter 16.
24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
The Apostle Paul had something to say also about joy when he wrote to the Romans.
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Joy is, of course the natural result of approaching a treasure for oneself. If you own the treasure of salvation you can truly rejoice. If you know the Lord today than you have every reason to be joyful. We don’t have to fear or live in worry. 1 John 4:18 tells us, “perfect love casts out fear.” When we have a love for Jesus because he has saved us one day when this world is over and we stand before God we don’t have anything to fear. Why? Because Jesus our advocate or mediator will step in and declare us righteous as sons and daughters of the kingdom of God. The Kingdom of Heave will be and is truly a Wonderful Place that brings Joy.
4. The Kingdom of Heaven comes with a High Cost.
4. The Kingdom of Heaven comes with a High Cost.
In both of these parables we know that the prize is purchased. So, clearly Jesus is not teaching that we can go out and purchase salvation or even earn salvation by any human works or effort. What we do need to understand today is that Jesus Christ paid salvations price in full. Jesus made the full atonement for the sins of His people and He offers eternal life for the repentant sinner. It is a gift received by faith alone, not a reward to be earned or purchased by works. (Eph. 2:8-9)
Having faith in Christ is not some simple thing. Saving faith is not a physical act like walking down an aisle at church or raising your hand in response to a question. Saving faith means letting go of everything else in this world and giving up trust in anything else that can save you. It is total surrender to the person and work of Christ.
Christ took our place on the cross. Jesus paid a heavy price for our sin. He died so that we may be free from sin and may spend an eternity with him in heaven. The cost for us is that we give up sin that we repudiate it (hate it with disgust) and gain a love for Christ. The cost for us is that we have a change of heart which is proof of our spiritual union with Christ. Those who do not repent and turn from their sin never truly believed in the greatest treasure of all time.
Conclusion: As you take time today to think about both of these parables I hope you will truly see the importance of counting the cost of following Christ. When we take time to truly see all that Christ has done for us, His life, death and resurrection. We will hopefully come to a place where we realize the pearl and valuable treasure that we have in Christ. When we understand this we can come to a place where we see that it is worth letting everything else of this world go so that we have everything we need in Christ. Knowing Christ is priceless.
(Pray and Lead into Communion)