Matthew 13:44-46

Kingdom of Heaven is Like…

Part 3

(Hidden Treasure & Pearl of Great Price)

There are many people who know there is “something", “some purpose", “some meaning", that is worthy of diligent search. Some will spend their whole lives trying to find it. When by the grace and providence of God they come to learn of Christ and His kingdom, they are willing to give up all to obtain it! These examples, and the parables above confirm the truthfulness of Jesus' teaching about those "who hunger and thirst for righteousness".

Those who "hunger", those who "search", will indeed find what God has for them! It might be that we may "stumble" across the blessings God has in Christ and His kingdom (as in "The Parable Of The Hidden Treasure"). But do we want to risk our salvation on a lucky chance of "stumbling" across it? What can we do to ensure that we will find what God has for us? Well, we need to be like that merchant who is "searching" for that "Pearl of Great Price".

In our continued study of the parables in Matthew 13, we now come to the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price;

 

1. (Matthew 13:44) Parable of the “Hidden Treasure”

“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.”

1. Details of the parable

1. A man finds a treasure hidden in a field

2. He first hides it, then proceeds to buy the field

3. Though he must sell everything he has in order to buy the field, he does so gladly in anticipation of the treasure that will then be rightfully his

2. Meaning

1. Parable of the treasure is similar to the pearl of great price

1. In value

1. Both delight the purchaser

2. Worth giving up everything to get

2. In interpretation of both

1. Jesus is the treasure and pearl

2. Sinner is the one who seeking

3. Worth giving up everything for salvation

2. Parable of the treasure and the pearl of great price are different

1. Treasure in the field was discovered by one not looking for it

1. They just stumbled upon something of value on land they do not own

2. But will sell everything to buy the land to get the treasure they found

2. Pearl is about a person on a mission to find that which is of great value

1. Like a merchant who searches for rare pearls to resell to the wealthy 

2. Once found, they sell everything to obtain it

3. Like a man who finds a sunken ship full of expensive pearls. He will sell everything so he can buy the equipment to get to the sunken ship

3. The Apostle Paul accepting Jesus as his Savior is an example

1. Paul discovered the "treasure" unexpectedly

1. It was on the road to Damascus, going to persecute Christians (Acts 9:1-2)

2. He thought it was the right thing to do (Acts 26:9-11)

3. He learned the will of God, did not hesitate regardless the cost (Acta 26:19-23

2. What did he believe the treasure was worth? 

1. Everything he owned, even his life if necessary (Philippians 3:4-11)

2. Writing of "the gospel of the glory of Christ", Paul refers to it as a "treasure" (2Corinthians 4:7)

3. He writes of the "treasures of wisdom and knowledge" that are found in Christ (2Corinthians 2:1-3) 

Clearly Paul considered Christ and His kingdom a "treasure" worth giving up all one had if necessary to obtain.  What is there about the kingdom of Christ that makes it so valuable?

4. The Kingdom of heaven is of exceeding value

1. A refuge from the powers of darkness (Colossians 1:13)

1. Outside the kingdom of heaven, one is in the kingdom of Satan (Ephesians 2:1-3

1. Under Satan’s influence

2. Trapped in various sins

2. The kingdom of Christ offers deliverance and a refuge of protection

1. We are set free from the guilt and dominion of sin, so that we can serve God (Romans 6:17-18)

2. In God’s kingdom, we are not allowed to be tempted beyond our ability (1Corinthians 10:13)

1. Tempted yes, but not beyond what we can handle

2. A domain of righteousness, peace, and joy (Romans 14:17)

1. A righteousness through faith in Christ, in which our sins have been forgiven (Philippians 3:8-9)

2. A peace from God, which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7)

3. Joy in the Lord, regardless of the circumstances (Philippians 4:4;  2:17-18)

3. An unshakable Kingdom (Hebrews 12:25-29)

1. One which shall never be destroyed (Deuteronomy 2:44)

2. Therefore, a truly everlasting kingdom (2 Peter 1:10-11)

4. Destined for eternal glory (1 Corinthians 15:21-26)

1. Upon His return, HE will present us to God, as the true "sons of the kingdom" and we will 

"shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father"

 (Matthew 13:41-43)

2. From that time forward, those in the kingdom will experience the ultimate fellowship in the presence of God (Revelation 21:1-5, 21:9-12, 21:22-27)

2. (Matthew 13:45-46) Parable of the “Pearl of Great Price”

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

1. Details of the parable

1. Again, this is like a merchant who searches for rare pearls to resell to the wealthy 

2. One day he finds that one pearl of a great price

3. The price is of no matter, for he will sell everything to buy that pearl

2. Meaning 

1. Jesus starts with the word, “Again”. Thus these two parables are related to each other.

1. Where the value and preciousness of the kingdom was being described

2. Where we saw the value to one who accidentally finds it

2. However, in this parable, the person is searching for something of great value

1. He believes there is something out there worth looking for, or he would not be seeking it

2. When he finds it, he immediately recognizes its value and is willing to sell all to obtain it

3. Neither this parable (nor the previous one) is suggesting we  can "buy" or otherwise "earn" our salvation

1. For salvation is a gift (Romans 6:23)

2. We can "buy" salvation only in the sense of gaining rightful possession of it

1. Which we do by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9)

2. When we submit to the working of God and the renewing the Holy Spirit (Colossians 2:11-13; Titus 3:4-7)

4. This parable, then, describes how some people react to the kingdom of heaven, when they know there must be something out there worthy of great value and have been searching for it

3. Examples

1. The Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-38)

1. His journey to Jerusalem to worship, his reading of Scripture while returning, indicate he was spiritually searching

2. His immediate desire to be baptized shows his estimation of the value of the salvation offered through Christ

2. Cornelius (Acts 10:1-8, 10:30-33)

1. His prayers and alms were indicative of his search for "righteousness"

2. As promised by Jesus (cf. Mt 5:6), God took note of his spiritual hunger and thirst, and sent Peter to tell him the gospel of Christ

3. Lydia (Acts 16:11-15)

1. Her meeting with other women to pray illustrates her spiritual searching

2. Upon hearing the things spoken by Paul, she and her household were baptized

4. How to search for “The Pearl of Great price”

1. Follow the example of the of the Ethiopian eunuch of (Acts 8:27-28)

1. Be a student of the Scriptures

2. Apply the Scriptures to the best of your understanding

3. Be open to what others may have to share concerning the Scriptures

2. Follow the example of the Bereans Paul in (Acts 17:10-11)

1. Again, be open to what others may to share 

2. But apply diligence (i.e., "readiness of mind") to understand what others are saying

3. And in the end, let the Scriptures be your final authority 

4. Demonstrate it by "searching the Scriptures daily"

3. So what is the value of the kingdom of heaven worth to you? I suggest you ask…

1. Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7)

2. Or any of the early Christians, who experienced persecution (Acts 8:1-4)

3. How about asking Paul what price he paid, before iot cost his life;

I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little. What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.

2 Corinthians 11:16-20

4. Of course, our Lord Jesus, suffered the most, because he carried our sins all the way to the cross so that we could may achieve freedom from the bondage of sin, and eternal life

2. So are you willing to pay the full price it may take to gain admittance into the HIS kingdom?

1. The price of repentance?

2. The price of complete submission to the will of Christ? (Matthew 28:18-20)

3. The price of putting the kingdom first in our lives? (Matthew 6:33)

Each of these examples should help you understand that there are many people who know there is “something", “some purpose", “some meaning", that is worthy of diligent search. Some will spend their whole lives trying to find it. When by the grace and providence of God they come to learn of Christ and His kingdom, they are willing to give up all to obtain it!  These examples, and the parables above confirm the truthfulness of Jesus' teaching about those "who hunger and thirst for righteousness". Those who "hunger", those who "search", will indeed find what God has for them!  It might be that we may "stumble" across the blessings God has in Christ and His kingdom (as in "The Parable Of The Hidden Treasure"). But do we want to risk our salvation on a lucky chance of "stumbling" across it?  What can we do to ensure that we will find what God has for us?  Well, we need to be like that merchant, "searching" for that "pearl of great price".