Reading:
Matthew Chapter 13: 44-52
Introduction
Just like the precious metals and gems of the physical world,
many of Yahweh's spiritual treasures lie hidden from human
view. To possess them we must dig deep and search; and when
we find them there is still work to be done - refining, shaping,
polishing and finishing - before their eternal value can
be fully appreciated. Yahweh has organized a spiritual Treasure
Hunt for mankind and all of us are taking part in it. He has
extremely good things available for His people; but His best
treasures are always hidden or camouflaged.
| 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. 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. 51: Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.” |
These parables teach us several basic truths about the Kingdom of Heaven.
Let us examine 4 this Sabbath.
1. The Worth of Yahweh’s Kingdom
The Kingdom of Heaven is the most wonderful and powerful
Kingdom in the entire universe. Its spiritual resources are endless
and its moral wealth incalculable. The Kingdom of Heaven,
also called the Kingdom of God, is in fact the subject of
most of the Saviour's sermons. He came to earth to preach the Gospel
of The Kingdom of God.
In this passage the worth of the Kingdom of Heaven, and
particularly of its King is likened to an inestimable find.
The structure of this Kingdom may be briefly described as follows:
- Its King: El Shaddai, Yahweh - the Almighty God of Israel.
- Yahweh's Son: Yeshua the Messiah.
- Its Motivator: The Holy Spirit of the Most High.
- Its Laws: Heaven's eternal constitution.
- Its Citizens: The holy angels and the redeemed host.
- Its Manifesto: The programme of salvation and future projects.
- Its Resources: The spiritual/physical expanse of the universe.
- Its Track Record: An unbroken sequence of achievement and victory.
Oh yes, the Kingdom of Heaven is a priceless treasure! No voice can do
it justice, no brush can paint it and no pen can adequately describe
its matchless worth. Only when we enter it will we know.
2. Temporarily Hidden from our Eyes
But for all this the Kingdom of Heaven is currently invisible
to the human eye. And even though everything about it is more lasting
than the things we can see, the fact is - the Kingdom of God is currently
hidden from human view. Indeed Yahweh has purposely hidden it. It is as it
were ‘buried in a field.’ To find this hidden treasure
requires effort on one's part. One must diligently search for it. Consider
these verses about searching for hidden things:
| Matthew 6: | 31: “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32: (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” |
| Matthew 7: | 7: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” |
| Colossians 3: | 1: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” |
It is vitally important that everyone in this audience accept the
Almighty's astonishing offer of salvation. It is free! Take up His
offer and become a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven - Now!
3. Recognizing Value
“The owners of Mount Morgan, in Queensland,
toiled arduously for years on its barren slopes, eking out a
miserable existence, never knowing that under their feet was
one of the richest sources of gold the world has ever known.
There was wealth, vast, undreamed of, yet unimagined
and unrealized. It was theirs, yet not theirs.”
(page 93, The Kneeling Christian, Zondervan Publishing
House, Grand Rapids, Michigan USA. Make every effort to buy
this book.)
Are you in a similar state? Going through life as a spiritual
pauper; when God is offering you wealth untold?
Before beginning any search one must be able to recognize things of
value and also the things that are worthless. Oh how often people
exchange things of great worth for valueless trifles and trinkets.
They exchange:
- Honour and Truth for ... wealth.
- Virginity and Virtue for ... cheap thrills.
- Friendship and Love for ... power and authority.
- Time and Effort for ... perishable trinkets.
- Good Health for ... temporary enjoyment.
- Respect and Decency for ... applause and fame.
- Eternal Salvation for ... the pleasures of sin.
Unlike the experienced merchant man seeking goodly pearls, they are
unable to recognize a valuable thing when they see it; and they barter
away their most precious possessions for worthless junk.
4. Total Commitment Commanded
Though entry to the eternal Kingdom of Heaven is freely
obtainable through Jesus Christ, a believer must put forth some
effort to realize available benefits. Both parables stress the
important point of total commitment.
| At All Cost | |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| The Pearl Merchant: | |
| Matthew 13: | 46: “Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” |
Total commitment is not simply an ideal which believers may or may not strive for. It is commanded.
| Deuteronomy 6: | 5: “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” |
| Deuteronomy 10: | 12: “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” |
| Deuteronomy 11: | 13: “And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,” |
| Matthew 22: | 37: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” |
There are of course millions of believers who do not render this kind
of service. They believe, but only just. They serve the Most High, but
with a subdued fervour and a restrained commitment. Most start off
very well; but many - too many - slump back into a kind of
half-hearted service. Their results will not be good. It is a sad
truth, but they will be the eternal losers in the long run.
5. The Judgment
Make no mistake, at the end of our lives we will all be judged.
It is a good idea to keep this sobering fact in mind.
| Matthew 13: | 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.” |
6. What Makes a Good Fish?
The Bible says all have sinned - all of us. What makes one
fish good and another bad? The answer is faith in Jesus Christ.
Good fish are good because they have faith in God and His Son. Fish are
reckoned as ‘bad’ because they lack faith - they
disbelieve. These primary actions of the mind - faith or doubt -
determine who is reckoned by God as ‘good’ and who
is ‘bad.’ There is also the fact that faith
must subsequently exhibit itself in good behaviour: else it is presumption.
The following analogy defines this essential.
| 1 Corinthians 3: | 11: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12: Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13: Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14: If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15: If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17: If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” |
7. Success
Totally committed believers will have great success in the Treasure
Hunt of Life. They will recognize clues and find treasures which
others pass by. They will find Yeshua (Jesus) and salvation. They will
recognize the value of Yahweh's law and will keep His holy
commandments. They will put everything they have into making life a
success and will build spiritual houses of the finest materials. And
with the Almighty's help they will stand the test of time. And at the
judgement they will hear those wonderful words.
Well done, good and faithful servants; enter into the joy of thy Lord!
Aim to be one of those servants. You can do it with the Saviour's help -
if you really want to.
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