Good evening. As we continue tonight in our series “The Parables Of Jesus” we come to our next couple of parables. Tonight again, we will be looking at 2 parables. In last weeks lesson, we looked at 2 parables: The Mustard Seed, and The Leaven. The theme of these parables was the growth and development of the Kingdom. The theme of the parables for this week is the preciousness and value of the Kingdom.
Before we look at these parables, let’s have a word of prayer.
If you where to have a yard sale, with the proceeds, what worthy item would you go out and purchase?
Well, go ahead and turn with me to Matthew 13:44 and we will see what a couple of people did with the money they got from selling their stuff. First we have the Parable Of The Hidden Treasure. Now this is a short verse, so pay close attention.
Matthew 13:44 says, “Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
What is the message from this parable?
Let me re-read that passage and make it easy to understand. “Again, the church is like the truth or salvation hidden. And when a man found it, in his joy went out and gave up everything he had and everything he was so that he could gain salvation.”
You see, the kingdom is so valuable, that we should be willing to give up all that we have in order to gain citizenship in the kingdom. Let’s look at the meaning of this parable. I think that the meaning of this parable is quite simple, the kingdom of heaven is worth way more than anything that we have. And those who know where the treasure is joyfully give up everything else in order to secure this treasure.
Now, this treasure that we seek is salvation. We need to realize that salvation is free to us, but it was not free. God had to send His one and only Son to come and die a horrible death on the cross so that we could have salvation freely. We need to remember that as we seek this treasure and we need to realize that the price we pay of giving up what we have to have this treasure is nothing compared to what God gave up to be able to give us salvation.
So, this parable teaches the value of the Kingdom to one who accidentally finds it. Though not purposely looking for it, it’s value is immediately recognized. Did anyone notice that? The man who found this treasure was not looking for it.
The Rabbinic law at the time provided “that if a man finds scattered fruit or money, it belongs to the finder.” If a person came across money or other valuables that were obviously lost and whose owner was dead or unknown, the finder had the right to keep what was found. Finders keepers, losers weepers.
This man wanted the treasure for himself, but he wanted to have it in a completely legal manner. He could have simply taken the treasure and run off with it, and no one but him and God would have known about it.
But, the man knew that whoever owned a piece of land, would have the right to everything that came with the land. He knew the value of the treasure he had found and was willing to sell everything in order to obtain it. He went and sold everything that he had in order to buy the field so that he would have an indisputable claim upon the treasure. Nothing he had could compare to what it was he was receiving. He chose to give it all, in order to purchase the field.
The discovery of the treasure prompts an outlandish response in this man. It has changed his view. His values have probably changed. He now has to have that treasure for himself. In order to get the treasure, he has to buy the field. In order to buy the field, he has to sell all his possessions. His possessions are now seen in light of the treasure he seeks. What he valued before is sold in order to acquire something of more value to him now that he accidentally found.
Now, as we move on, we come to Matthew 13:45-46. Here in this passage we find the Parable Of The Pearl Of Great Price. Let’s go ahead and read these verses. Matthew 13:45-46 says, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
Let’s jump strait to the meaning of the parable. I think that the meaning of this parable is simple, the kingdom of heaven is worth way more than anything that we have. And those who know where the treasure is joyfully give up everything else in order to secure this treasure.
Does this sound familiar? While this parable is similar to the one we just looked at, there is a difference. In the first one, the person found the treasure by accident. However, in this parable, the person is purposefully looking for the pearl.
The merchant believed there was something worth looking for, or else he would not have been looking. Upon making his discovery, the merchant does the same thing that the man in the first parable did: He goes, he sells everything he has and he makes a purchase. He sells everything he has in order to buy the pearl. He is not buying the pearl in order to make a profit; he's buying it in order to possess it. Once making his purchase, he evidently gets out of the business. He's not buying and selling anymore.
Once we find the kingdom, and find it to be that pearl of great value, what should we do? We need to chase after it and appreciate it so much that we would change everything in order to possess it. On the one hand, we should be in the pearl business, seeking for the kingdom and seeking to understand its greatness. But on the other hand, we should be in the appreciation business, marveling at the greatness of the king and His love for us when we find Him.
Although these 2 stories come at things from slightly different angles, they both make the same point: The value of the kingdom is worth giving up everything else that a person values. In each story, the character is blown away by his discovery - so much so that he responds in a startling way and sells everything to obtain that valuable discovery.
So, what do these 2 parables teach us about the value of the kingdom?
With what emotion and energy should it be pursued?
Okay, compared to the man and the merchant from these parables, how valuable is the kingdom to you and why? (It’s worth more than anything else. I think I’d miss too many of the other things. I’m not ready to put all of my eggs in one basket. Why?)
Now before we close tonight, please note: neither of these 2 parables suggests that the gift of salvation can be purchased. Turn with me to Ephesians 2:8-9. Here in Ephesians 2:8-9 it says, “1”
The lesson that we need to learn form this passage is that we cannot buy or earn our salvation. it is a gift that God has decided to give to us. Yes there are things that we have to do to accept it, but we in no way buy or earn our salvation.
As we close this evening, we have several examples in the New Testament of people searching for that something. The Ethiopian Eunuch was searching the scriptures. Turn with me to Acts 8:26-28, and verse 39. Here in these verses it says, “2”
You see, he was searching in the right place. He looked for an answer, received and answer, and responded.
Turn over to Acts 10:1-2, and verse 48. Here we find that Cornelius was praying continuously. Here in Acts 10:1-2 and verse 48 it says, “2”
Cornelius was a good fellow, but he needed more. He received a message, understood the message, and responded.
And finally, Lydia opened her heart. In Acts 16:13-15 it talks about Lydia. Here in Acts 16:13-15 it says, “3”
Lydia was receptive, and then she responded.
In Hebrews 11:6 it says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
So, how about you? Are you willing to pay the full price to obtain the treasure of the Kingdom? The price of repentance? The price of obedience? The price of submission to the will of God? The price of putting the Kingdom first in your life?
Before we close, does anyone have anything that they would like to add?
Well, the choice is up to you. You can’t buy it and you can’t earn it. The only way to receive the free gift of salvation from God is to respond to it.
Let’s Pray |
