THE HIDDEN TREASURE
Jesus tells us the story, or the parable, of the treasure hidden in the field. There we learn that the true Christian sees the worth of the kingdom, even though it is hidden to the eyes of the world. His search is unintentional. The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field which a man finds and he hides it again. Overjoyed, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. He sacrifices his worldly desires for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Many read the gospel superficially, because they look only upon the surface of the field. But all who search the Scriptures, are able to find Christ and eternal life, John 5:39. They find such treasure which is unspeakably valuable; they make it their own at any cost. Though nothing can be given as a price for the salvation, yet much must be given up for the sake of it.
THE PEARL
Again, notice three things about the kingdom in this parable. First of all, in this case, the merchant is searching for the kingdom. He is searching for the best quality of pearl. The merchant is looking for a treasure and he finds it. This time the search is intentional.
Secondly, he values this treasure above everything else, and notices he is willing to embrace that treasure at great personal cost. And Jesus is teaching by those things that all who are true citizens of His kingdom see its value and they seek it first. This parable also tells us the importance of salvation, giving up everything to win Christ and eternal life.
Think of the Ethiopian eunuch, a great career for public service in Ethiopia and yet he is searching for something beyond that. And Phillip leads him to find it in the exposition of Isaiah 53. Think of Cornelius, a Roman centurion. Important, prominent, successful, and yet seeking for the truth, he finds it as God leads Peter to him to tell him the way of salvation. And Cornelius is brought into the kingdom of God because he values that treasure above all. No matter what it costs him in terms of his political advancement and his career goals. These men seek the kingdom and they find it.
Thirdly, Jesus Christ is a Pearl of great price; in having him, we have enough to make us happy here in this world and for ever. A man may buy gold too dear, but not this Pearl of great price. When the convinced sinner sees Christ as the gracious Saviour, all worldly things become worthless and disappears from his mind’s eye.
THE DRAGNET
The world is a vast sea, and men, in their natural state, are like the fishes. Preaching the gospel is casting a net into this sea, to catch something out of it, for His glory who has the sovereignty of this sea. When the net is dragged, it brings good and bad fish to the shore. They are separated. Hypocrites and true Christians shall be parted: miserable is the condition of those that are cast away.
There, Jesus teaches again that the true Christian realises that the kingdom is imperfect now, but that it is perfected in the judgement. This parable is similar, to the parable of the tares among the wheat, and it reminds us of the mixed character of the kingdom. But the disciples were expecting a pure kingdom with the righteous on the inside and the unrighteous on the outside.
And Jesus said that the kingdom is going to be mixed with good and bad people. He stresses the certainty of the final judgement. Only on that great day of judgement, His angels separate the wicked from the righteous. So lets always focus on Jesus as our treasure and work on it for our salvation.
Let’s pray……
Lord, prepare ourselves to get attached to You, rather than attaching
ourselves with the worldly affairs. Amen.
Glory be to God
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