Parables - Kingdom of Heaven - Value

The past two weeks we look at parables about the Kingdom of God.

First we looked at parables about growth.

Then we looked at parables that compared good vs evil.

This week, we’re looking at parables about worth.

How do we determine what something is worth?

In the world, the value of something is based on what someone will exchange for it.

Your house is worth what you can sell it for.

You car is worth what you will get for a trade-in.

And the job you perform is worth what you get paid for it.

But how do we determine the value of Godly things?

Hidden Treasure

Matthew 13:44 NKJV

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven as like a treasure hidden in a field.

Treasure here meaning wealth, something of value.

And notice, it is hidden in a field.

Even though it’s there, not everyone sees it.

Sometimes, it seems that God and the kingdom of heaven just aren’t around,

Yet we may find them hidden, right at out feet.

So there is this treasure hidden in a field.

But a man found it, and hid it.

But why did he hide it?

So he could legally obtain it.

If he had just taken the treasure, that would have been stealing.

Since only he knew what was in the field, he could buy it for less than it was worth.

And it says he did so because of the joy he had at finding the treasure.

Now, think about your encounter with the kingdom of heaven.

It was hidden from you, until you “found” it.

Does that mean the kingdom of heaven wasn’t there before?

No. Only that you couldn’t see it.

You didn’t have to pay full price,

Not because no one else knew the value,

But because someone paid the price for you.

But once you found it, how did you react?

Were you full of joy?

Were you prepared to give all to posses for it?

Have you ever noticed how excited and jubilant a new believer is?

Have you ever wished you could be that excited about God again?

What was the value of the treasure to the man in this parable?

It was worth all that he owned and more.

He was willing to sell all that he had in order to get it.

What is the value of the kingdom of heaven to you?

What will you give in order to be a part of it?

Put another way, what will you GIVE UP to be a part of it?

Pearl of Great Price

Matthew 13:45–46 NKJV

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

This parable is very similar.

Again, we have a person finding something of great value, and willing to sell all they had to obtain it.

But here, we see not someone who happens to find treasure in a field, but a merchant searching for beautiful pearls,

Why?

Because beautiful pearls are quite valuable.

And not just monetarily,

Men, just give a string of pearls to your bride and see what value she puts on them.

In the parable of the hidden treasure, we see someone finding something they were not looking for,

Here, we see someone looking but finding something infinitely more valuable.

Like the person who is looking for answers to a problem yet finding the answer to life.

How about you?

Are you wandering, hoping maybe the kingdom of heaven will drop into your lap?

Or are you searching for sometime valuable?

Something you would sell all that you have to possess.

Householder

A bit further down, after the parable of the Dragnet we discussed last week, Jesus asks a question.

Matthew 13:51–52 NKJV

Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”

This parable comes at the end of those in Matthew 13, and it’s a little different.

At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be a message in it.

But let’s look closer.

Jesus it talking about scribes, scholars, people who have received instruction concerning the kingdom of heaven.

What have we been doing the last few weeks?

We have been instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven.

And what does this scholar do?

They bring out of their treasure,

Literally, their store room,

Things that are new and old.

We should not abandon the old in search of the new.

Neither should we avoid seeking the new because we are satisfied with the old.

The kingdom of heaven seems to always involve learning,

Sometimes, we learn something new.

Others, we appreciate something old.

And at times, we will see something old in a new way.

Great Supper

Next, I want to take a look at this from another point of view.

Luke 14:16–17 NKJV

Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’

Here we have a man ready to host a big celebration.

We aren’t told what or why he is celebrating, only that he is doing so.

And that he put a great value on what he was celebrating, because he was putting on such a large supper.

The man wants to share his celebration with others,

Many were invited.

And now that the celebration was ready, he sent his servant to inform the guests.

Luke 14:18–20 NKJV

But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’

But every one of them came up with excuses.

Look at the excuses that were made.

One had to go see some land he just bought.

Another had to test his new work animals.

The third had married, and could not go.

Why do I put this parable in with the others discussing the value of the kingdom of God?

Because we see three examples of what we may value more than God.

Many often value their possession more than God.

“Sure, I love God, but I have to take care of my property.”

“Sure, I love God, but I have work to do.”

“Sure, I love God, but I will put my wife before Him.”

In each of these cases, we see things we may place before God.

Exodus 20:2–3 NKJV

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “You shall have no other gods before Me.

Do we place “gods”, or idols, before God?

It maybe work, or hobbies, or even our families.

How do we know if we are placing other things before God?

When God invites you to a banquet, do you make excuses?

When God opens up an opportunity, do you find somewhere else to be?

Do you place your child’s sporting event as a higher priority then the gathering of believers?

Do you place duty above spending time or learning about God?

Do you set aside your beliefs when you’re with certain people, or when certain topics come up?

Luke 14:21–24 NKJV

So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”

The master was angry because everyone he invited gave an excuse.

Everyone of them valued something more than this man and his celebration.

Do we value something more than God and his kingdom?

If so, would not God be angry at us.

Israel was God’s chosen people,

Yet they valued their rituals and traditions more than God.

Matthew 15:8–9 NKJV

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

And God was angry, if not surprised.

So what did God do?

He told his servants to go into the streets and lanes and bring others to his celebration.

The poor, the lame and the blind.

Aren’t you glad He did so?

Acts 13:46 NKJV

Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

You may also remember the parable of the wedding feast, but I’m saving that for another time.

Conclusion

What Do You Value More?

Do you wander through life waiting for God to appear, maybe in a burning bush?

Do you search for the things of God, yet miss the value of the people right in front of you?

When God invites you to His celebration, do you joyfully attend or do you find an excuse?

If we were to look at what we spend our time and money on, what would you see as the most valuable things in your life?

Would it be the bright shiny thing?

Would it be the job, the house, or the vacation?

Would it be your spouse or child?

Or would you sell everything you have just to grab hold of the kingdom of God?