The Pearl of Great Price

Text: Matthew 13:34–50 (KJV 1900)

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Introduction:

The origin of the kingdom of this world

34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

1) Satan’s fall

* The first that we know in the Scriptures of Satan is How that he tried to overthrow the throne of God in Heaven.

Luke 10:17–18 (KJV 1900)

17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Isaiah 14:4–17 (KJV 1900)

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; That opened not the house of his prisoners?

* After Satan’s failed attempt to make himself the God of Heaven, God banished Satan from Heaven to the earth.

* Satan then set out to make himself the God of the earth.

2) Man’s Creation

3) Man’s fall

* After that Satan had cast out of heaven, he tried once again to usurp the throne of God by causing mankind to follow himself.

* Satan went out and deceived the nations and became the God of this world.

4) The kingdom of this world

* The men of this world, directed by the Devil, would deceive you by telling you a lie this morning.

* Time and time again we have heard people like Ophra Winphery say “there is a spark of God in every man.”

* My friend that is a lie straight from the pit of Hell! * Even in the presidential debates I heard one of the candidates repeat another lie of the Devil. The lie that we are all the children of God!

* The world would have you to believe the lie that we are all the children of God. That’s not what Jesus said!

* Listen to Jesus as He tells the truth to the Scribes and Pharisees:

John 8:42–44 (KJV 1900)

42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. * My friend, after that Eve, the mother of all living, was deceived by the first lie mentioned in the Bible, we have all, by default, been born into the family of the Devil.

* Listen again to the words of our text

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

* The Devil is the god of this world and He does not want any of his children! * The Bible tells us plainly, that this world, and all its kingdoms, has been delivered into the hands of the Devil.

Luke 4:5–7 (KJV 1900)

5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 (KJV 1900)

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

* You see, according to the Bible, the Devil is the God of this world, and all who are born into this world are by default the children of the Devil and citizens of his kingdom.

The Parable of the Tares- A story of two kingdoms

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

Matthew 13:24–35 (KJV 1900)

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

The End of the World

41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Main thought: The kingdom of heaven is like a hidden treasure that only be purchased by a total commitment to that treasure.

If you would enter the kingdom of Heaven, you must to the savior with an attitude of total commitment. Matthew 13

44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

I. The kingdom of Heaven is like a hidden treasure.

* According to our text this morning, the Devil, the god of this world does not want you to find this hidden treasure called the kingdom of Heaven.

* Look at the words in our text- Jesus tells two stories that illustrate to us that the kingdom of Heaven is like a hidden treasure: Matthew 13

44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. *In this same passage of Scripture we are discussing this morning; Jesus gave two other parables about the kingdom of Heaven that show how that the kingdom of heaven is hidden to the eyes of the people of this world:

Matthew 13:31–35 (KJV 1900)

31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

* The Apostle Paul explains in plain language, the reason that the gospel of the kingdom of heaven is like a hidden treasure:

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 (KJV 1900)

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

* Our eyes have been blinded by the god of this worldly kingdom in order to keep us from hearing the message of Gospel, which is the message of the kingdom of God.

* The Bible gives us an example of how the Devil uses the temporary things of this world to keep us from entering the kingdom of heaven:

Mark 10:20–27 (KJV 1900)

20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

* Satan has blinded us with the cheap trinkets and tinsel of what this world has to offer. * Satan even tried to blind the eyes of Jesus, the very son of God, with the things this world has to offer.

Luke 4:5–7 (KJV 1900)

5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

II. In order to gain the kingdom of heaven, you must renounce your citizenship and follow a new king.

Matthew 10:32–39 (KJV 1900)

32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Mark 8:34–38 (KJV 1900)

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Luke 9:23 (KJV 1900)

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Luke 14:27 (KJV 1900)

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Acts 14:21–22 (KJV 1900)

21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 11:13–16 (KJV 1900)

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 11:23–26 (KJV 1900)

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

* My friend, would you be willing this morning to follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit of God and like Moses, choose to suffer the affliction of the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season?

III. The rightful owner of this world is coming to reclaim the world. * In the final parable of our passage in Matthew Jesus tells us the end of the story of the two kingdoms- The kingdom of this world and the Kingdom of Heaven:

(Matthew 13- our text)

47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

* My friend, the Bible plainly tells us that even though the Devil is the god of this world at the moment, Jesus Christ is coming back to this earth to reclaim this world and set things straight.

* Brethren, we are now living in the final days.

* According to the prophecies of the Bible, Satan’s final plan for this earth is to set up a one world government.

* For the last two centuries the United States of America has been used by God to preach the Gospel of the kingdom of God to the very ends of the earth.

* For the last two centuries God has used the United States, and other freedom loving countries, to hold back the coming one world government.

* But now, every day in the news, we can plainly see the Devil carrying out his plan to remove the United States as a hindrance for his ultimate goal of a one world government.

* God has used The United States and other allies of freedom in this world, for the last two centuries to keep the Anti-Christ at bay, but now his time has arrived. We are now living in the Days of the book of Revelation. * At any moment Jesus Christ will return to this earth and remove those who make up His church.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52 (KJV 1900)

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Thessalonians 4:15–17 (KJV 1900)

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

* After that the church and the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth, the Anti-Christ will become the leader of the one world government.

* World will enter into the Great Tribulation and terrible judgments from God, then the end will come.

Matthew 25:31–33 (KJV 1900)

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Matthew 25:41 (KJV 1900)

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Matthew 25:46 (KJV 1900)

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Revelation 20:11–15 (KJV 1900)

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Conclusion:

The kingdom of heaven is like a hidden treasure that only be purchased by a total commitment to that treasure.

If you would enter the kingdom of Heaven, you must to the savior with an attitude of total commitment. 2 Timothy 1:12 (KJV 1900)

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Romans 10:9–11 (KJV 1900)

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

k* Speaking s your pastor and friend, and for some folks your family member, I have observed you.

* I am convinced that there are some here this morning that are content to hear about the kingdom of heaven. * You are willing to admit, that the things that I have preached from this Bible this morning are true, but yet you have not made a commitment to Christ.

* If you want to see heaven my friend, you must forsake all and join yourself to Jesus to enter the kingdom of Heaven. *Jesus taught that you cannot be His disciple unless you are will to forsake all, and take up your cross, and follow Him.

* Is the Holy Spirit of God speaking to someone’s heart this morning inviting you into the kingdom of Heaven? * Would there be anyone who would not be ashamed to step out and make a definite commitment to take up your cross and follow Jesus this morning?

* I am here and waiting to take the Bible and help you into the kingdom of Heaven.

* Which group will you be in this morning, those who have gave their life to Christ, or those found this great treasure of the kingdom of heaven, but were not willing to forsake all to come to Jesus?