TREASURE OF THE KINGDOM"

MATTHEW 13:44-46

Introduction: Just about everybody likes a treasure hunt. It excites the imagination.  How excited we would be if we were to stumble over unexpected treasure - winning the lottery, win a sweepstakes, find oil or gold on our land or receive a large inheritance unexpectedly. All these conjure up dreams of what a person might do with such a fortune.

In the parables of the treasure found in a field and the pearl of great price Jesus speaks to us about the kingdom of heaven.  In the first parable we have a man who unexpectedly comes upon a treasure hidden in a field.  In the days of Jesus it was a common practice for a wealthy person to divide his wealth into thirds. One third he would keep in cash for business transactions. Another third would be invested in precious stones and gems that could be easily carried and used in another country. This was done incase he had to flee his home for one reason or another. The last third of his fortune would be hidden in a field. Of course if something happened to the man. His treasure would remain buried. A man finding the treasure would do what ever it would take to secure it for himself.

 In the second parable we have a dealer of pearls looking for the best ones. In Jesus time, a pearl was a scarce item. It held a place in the society of that time that the diamond holds in ours. When the pearl dealer found one of very great value he, like the first man, sold everything to posses it

I.   The Treasure and its Value 

A. What is the treasure that Jesus is talking about?  The treasure that is hidden in the field is righteousness, pardon and peace –all that are spiritually priceless. More precisely it is all that is found in Christ. In Christ are the treasures of heaven hidden for one purpose -to be found by sinners. It is the treasures of God's love poured out on the cross in Christ's blood, which is more precious than silver or gold.

B. Where is it?  The treasure is not hidden away in some heavenly place where it cannot be found.  It is here on earth and hidden right before our eyes. It can only be found in God's Word -the Bible. The treasure of Christ, His life death and resurrection, have been written down, to be found by us for our salvation.

II.   How it is found?

               A. Sometimes by Accident -Sometimes the treasures of the kingdom are found by accident, like the man walking in the field who finds the treasure. Or at least it seems like an accident. Really, it is no accident at all. In the course of life God prepares I a person’s heart and guides their steps, and leads them to the treasures of His kingdom, even without their knowing it or wanting it. A woman once told me that she had found God while walking past a church. Her life had fallen apart and there was nowhere to turn -but to God. She wasn't looking for Him but there He was. Actually the treasure was with her all the time. Seeing the church reminded her of God's word sealed in her heart that she had heard in her youth.  It was a word of love for her in Jesus. God leads us even though we don't search for Him.

            B. Sometimes by Searching. Sometimes the treasure is found by searching.  People suffer from a horrible peace less void in their lives.  It is a void created by separation from God.  It is a separation caused by sin. Without Gods' word, people don’t know why they feel the void. In their discomfort they search for a way to fill it. Some people try to find satisfaction in the pleasures of the world. Some people try to find it in religion, any religion. Martin Luther searched to fill the void in His life. He tried religion, working at it with all his heart. Still He found no satisfaction. He joined the Augustinian order of monks who were known for their strict asceticism.  He almost killed himself with their pietistic practices, trying to atone for his sense of guilt. Still he had no relief. Then He found the treasure that had been right before his eyes. He read God's word and came to understand that He had been made right with God by God's grace in Christ Jesus.

            C. Always By God's Grace.  We always find God through His grace.  Whether we aren’t looking for Him and find Him by mistake; or are looking for Him in all the wrong places.  God must open our eyes of faith to see the treasure that is laid out before us.  The treasure is spiritual and can only be seen by people who are spiritual, having been born again of water and the Spirit.  Through, His Word, God makes Himself available, and gives us the eyes and ears of faith to find His treasure.  

III.  How it is Secured / What does it Cost?

               A. It cost everything. After the treasure is found in the parables it is purchased. It cost everything both men had to posses the treasure. If this is the case, how then could we ever posses the treasure. We know that we have no natural inclination to sell all that we have, give every thing away, for a treasure that we cannot see, for a spiritual treasure. Even if we did have the desire, we know that there is nothing that we posses that we could sell that could purchase one comer of heaven.

               B. What we cannot do, the price that we cannot afford has already been paid for us. We posses the treasure by our baptism into Christ and our faith in Him who is able to pay the price. Jesus paid the price. Jesus does what we are unable to do. He does it for us in our place. By faith in Him, His actions become ours. Jesus purchased God's kingdom for us .He gave up the glory that He had with His Father and became man.  Jesus purchaser God's kingdom for us by giving everything, even His own life on the cross.

 Conclusion:  In Christ, we posses the pearl of great price and the hidden treasure.  It is a treasure that is undeserved and unexpected.  It is like an inheritance that we didn't know we had. We are heirs of God's treasure, given to us because Jesus died. All that was His is now ours...found by faith in the field of God's Word.  The treasure...righteousness, pardon, and peace are ours through Jesus Christ our Lord.