Parable of Hidden Treasure/Pearl

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Background:

Focus now is on “great joy of discovery.” - Two parables one message!

Location: It would seem with the placement that this now happens after Jesus left the crowd (Mt13:36) and was delivered after the parable of tares was explained.

Reason this parable is here: We have no indicators as to a reason here, except Jesus had been given other teachings right then.

Both parables speak of the price one would pay for a great treasure that is found. In each the buyer sold everything they had for the great treasure.

Problems: some have placed a judgment on it that the man who hid the treasure should not have done this before buying it. - - - These parables are about the find, the price, not a moral teaching. Reminder we do not get doctrine from the parables, not all parables are literal either.

(Transition): Focus is not on finding the treasure, but the value of the treasure, about the worth of the kingdom of God.

Explaining the text:

Parable of the treasure brings questions:

Why did a man suddenly find a treasure of great value?

Who put the treasure there, why did they not come back for it?

We don’t know the answers to those questions, we can speculate, but have no definitive answer.

Commentator Kistemaker:

“A treasure has been hidden in a field. Who put it there and how long ago are questions that cannot be answered. We do know that in ancient Palestine, a country frequently ravished by war, people often hid their treasure or part of it in a field rather than in a house. In a house, thieves would be able to find it; in a field, a treasure would be safe. But if the owner were killed during the war, He would carry his secret with him to the grave, and no one would ever know where he had hidden the treasure.”

Think of the Dead Sea Scrolls, they were hidden and unearthed. There still continues to be excavations “digs” that happen today.

There was no banking system like we have today. Now, there were money changers outside the temple, etc. that for a fee would change from one currency to another.

I mentioned the problem a minute ago, let me expand, some want to know why did the man who found the great treasure not say anything to the landowner? Did he hide the fact from him? Is Jesus condoning dishonesty? - - - - NO, this is not about a moral teaching, doctrine, it is about the treasure, not finding the treasure, it is about the value of the treasure (the kingdom of God). The kingdom is priceless, it is worth all we have or can have.

As for the pearl of great price, we have a merchant (wholesaler); one who knew and understood what to look for and he found it! - this was not a chance find, this was a looking find, he was looking for it. When he found it, he knew the value of it.

Now comes back the similarity between the two parables, both realized what they had, both sold everything to keep what they had found.

Purpose and Application:

Little in words, big in meaning.

Not focusing on any moral issue, but the focus is on the worth, value of the kingdom of God.

Kingdom is more valuable than any sacrifice we could present it.

Kingdom is to be first priority (Mt6:33)

Matthew 6:33 NASB95

33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Kingdom dwellers are at end of self and pick up cross to follow Him (Mt16:24)

Matthew 16:24 NASB95

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

So, the kingdom does take sacrifice, but it is worth the cost. In these parables they gave up everything to have the treasure they found.

Two ways of learning about the kingdom

Stumble across it. Not necessarily looking for it, but discovered it, and made it priority and gave up all to have it. - - - - this is our man in the field who found the treasure

The other are looking for it, they knew when they found it, they would know it and appreciate the value of it. - - - this is the merchant who was looking. Some spend a lifetime looking for it (look up Pro23:23)

Proverbs 23:23 NASB95

23 Buy truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.

THen continue on: and you will come to know the truth and be set free (Ref: Jn8:32)

John 8:32 NASB95

32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

The kingdom is a beautiful treasure.

we live in a God forsaken, fallen world.

Sin is prevalent and always put before us

The kingdom is beautiful regardless of the circumstances around us

Turn to (Col2:12) about kingdom entrance

Colossians 2:12 NASB95

12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Then turn to (Col3:1-4) about kingdom priority and focus (expand on this; bring in personal story)

Colossians 3:1–4 NASB95

1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

To possess you must be willing to sacrifice, give it all up for the kingdom for the treasure. (Remember this is not literal, it is figurative)

Remember buy the truth and do not sell it (re: Pro23:23)

Leave the rest behind (re: Php3:7-8)

Philippians 3:7–8 NASB95

7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

Learning to live the parable

What is the treasure? It is the kingdom of Heaven, the kingdom of God, available through salvation.

Israel looked for the kingdom, longed for the kingdom and they missed when the kingdom was among them (re: Lk17:21)

The kingdom was promised through Prophesy, fulled through Jesus.

It is the kingdom of eternal peace, freed from the bondage of sin, the wages of sin.

What do we learn from these?

First, the kingdom is within reach of all. Not just a certain sect of people, but all people

Kingdom comes with a price: Give up everything to obtain it. It is not about your net worth, or your poverty, it is about your very soul.

The kingdom is a personal, individual thing. You have to receive it, all who believe (Jn3:16) and obey the gospel (ref: 2The1:8); then continue to work out your salvation (re: Php2:12) - - - - it is personal, you cannot do it for someone else and no one else can do it for you.

Our self-evaluation of the worth of the kingdom is found in how much are we really willing to give, to give up in order to obtain it (ref: Mt19:16-30, rich young ruler was not willing).