Setting: Contemporary Worship
Length: 29:09
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Title: The Parable of the Hidden Treasure and Pearl
Main Scripture: Matthew 13:34 - 35, 44 - 46
Main Topics:
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Introduction
-let’s continue our verse by verse journey through Matthew chapter 13
-remember where we are
This is the holy land
-Jesus is up here….in the region of Galilee
-scholars believe that Jesus is in Capernaum in Peter’s house
-from here, Jesus goes to a place we now call Sower’s Cove
-where he is teach in parables about the kingdom of heaven
-before we get into our 2 parables for today, we need to take a look at 2 verses which are Matthew’s editorial remarks…vss.34-35
-Matthew says in vs.34
34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.
35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:
"I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."
-this proposal that everything that Jesus said at Sower’s Cove was a fulfillment of prophecy is part of an ongoing theme in the book of Matthew
-Matthew is tracking every move that Jesus makes….every word that He speaks
-Matthew is tracking it with a GPS tracker which is….OT prophecy
-the word “fulfilled” becomes then a key word in this entire book, emphasizing that all that has happened is a fulfillment…therefore…..it was planned
-in other words, nothing happened outside of God’s will
-so….Sower’s Cove
-is not a place where Jesus was being spontaneous
-as if Jesus is saying…hey look…there are people coming…let me be creative and use parables to entertaining
-far from it
-we saw that earlier that the parables were more than entertainment
-though it was entertaining to hear about familiar scenarios of farming or fishing or baking bread in the kitchen, the parables were actually a genre that divided the people into those who had the ears to hear and those who did not
-we confirmed that with Tip #2 on reading the parables…that it was the reveal and to conceal…remember that?
-and we saw that we the second sermon in this series which focused on verses 10-17 where Jesus explains why he spoke in parables
-and clearly, judgment was the focus
-that 2nd message is available on line
-and so, vs.35….the words of the prophet….the prophet there is Asaph in Psalm 78 who originally spoke in vs.35
"I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."
-these words are ultimately fulfilled in Jesus
-prophetic words that were hidden since the creation of the world
-ready to be unfolded in due time….God’s time
-and so, when Jesus spoke, it was a fulfillment of all that was hidden until the right time
-and that’s good news for the disciples who were blessed to see and hear, vs.16
-and that is bad news for the pharasees and others who did not have the ears to hear, the eyes to see, and the heart to receive, v.15
-and so, on the same day that the pharasees accused him of working with the devil, Jesus speaks parables of judgment….good news and bad news…as God’s will is fulfilled on earth as it is in heaven
-and with that, let’s move forward to the 2 parables….the hidden treasure and the pearl
-and for the second time…in this collection, Jesus will give back to back parables to teach the same point
-we saw this for the first time with the previous 2 parables, the mustard seed and yeast
-here we go again
-let’s take a look at the first parable which takes us into the field
-this is the work of farming
-as the ground is turned up and prepared for the seeds
-and in the process….the framer’s plow hits something
-it doesn’t feel like a rock….it sounds like a box of some sort
-and so, the man digs….and he finds great treasure
-now, most people today don’t find hidden treasure in their own
backyard
-you know, my hobby is gardening…I dig up my yard all the time and
I haven’t found anything exciting
-if my shovel hits something different, it’s usually a sprinkler pipe and that’s not good
-but for this plowman, it’s all good!
-he hit the jackpot
-now, up to this point, every parable was based on a familiar experience such as sowing seeds, putting yeast in dough
-this one is no different
-the original audience could easily identify with this situation
-cause back then, the ground was where you kept your valuables
-remember the parable of the talents?
-remember the man with the ONE talent?
-what did he do? He buried it in the ground
-the ground was where you kept your valuables
-this was the common thing to do
-instead of piggy banks, safes, or the B of A, they would take their shovels
-in the middle of the night…
-when no one is watching
-they would sneak out on to their field and bury their valuables
-in fact, there is an old rabbinic saying that the only safe place to store one’s money was….the ground
-especially back then when wars were common
-soldiers would come into town and loot everything
-and because thieves routinely broke into homes to steal valuables
-you better bury all the good stuff!
-now, think about this
-often times, people die before they dig their treasure back up
-they die and no one knows about the treasures in his backyard
-time passes by…
-years might pass by….
-and no one knows where the treasure is
-grass and dandelions may grow on top of the spot
-talk about buried treasure!
-the land was pregnant with riches
-and here comes the plowman
-he accidentally stumbles up great treasure
-Jesus says in v.44
When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Now, some Christians are embarrassed by this parable
-some think this is unethical
-you find treasure on someone else’s field…you hide it again and then ….with joy….you buy that field?
-does that sound right to you?
-some Christians retort that the man should have told the owner of the field before he buys it from him
-that would be the Christian thing to do, they say
-now…before you jump to any conclusions, remember what I said earlier about themes and sub-themes
-every parable is centered on a theme or a main point
-remember tip #3
-the intended message from God is found in that main point and
not the peripheral details
-it’s important not to get side-tracked
-don’t go off on a tangent
-don’t chase rabbits down every trail
-the potential ethical issue here is NOT the focus of this parable
-if you focus on whether he should have told the owner about the treasure or not, you will miss the main point of this parable and the next
-now, having said that, let me make a few side comments before we get back to the main point
-let me say that if the ethical issue here bothers you, consider this….
-the treasure probably does not belong to the owner of the land
-if it did, don’t you think the owner would have dug up the treasure before he sells the land
-unless the owner has a bad memory, he probably would remember to dig up any valuables before selling his land
-so, I don’t think the treasure belongs to the owner
-now consider this as well
-there was a rabbinic law that states, I quote:
“if a man finds scattered fruit or money, it belongs to the finder”
-in other words: finders keepers
-in other words, it’s fair within their law for the plowman to keep the treasure
-and…one more thing…if you are still embarrassed, consider this…
-if the plowman was truly dishonest, he would have taken the
treasure and ran
-he would not have bought the field to get the treasure, right?
But ANYWAY….all this talk….is taking us away from the main point!
-we need to find the main point and stick with it
-and the main point here is that this treasure is so worth it…
-what he has found… is now so valuable to him
-that he sells everything he has to get it
-remember, these 2 parables are about kingdom value
-Jesus is saying….when you find something of great value, you
will do anything to get it
-you gotta have it….that’s the point
-remember…Jesus is speaking to a great crowd at Sower’s Cove
-so large that verse 2 tells us that Jesus has to back out…
-waaaay back… into the water to speak to them
-Luke 8:4 tells us that people from “town after town” came to him
-scholars estimate up to 10 thousand could have been there to hear the kingdom parables
-so many people....you think the kingdom of heaven is blowing up
-that thousands are stepping up to follow him
-yet the tragic tale is that most of the people will turn away
-…..if only they had the eyes to see and the ears to hear, Matt.13:9
-if only they to could sense the value of the kingdom that Jesus was presenting
-they would give up everything to get it
-like the plowman who stumbles upon treasure
-he wasn’t looking for it
-he was just out their plowing the field
-but, he knows treasure when he sees it and so acts swiftly and with joy
-Now, to reinforce the value of the kingdom, Jesus draws another picture
-this time, he pictures a merchant looking for fine pearls, v.45
-the word merchant: Original Greek: emporos (cf. English “emporium”)
-a word that describes a marketplace
-so, picture a busy marketplace….much like a swap-meet
-the merchant is there
-his job is to buy pearls and re-sell them
-negotiating with other pearl merchants
-going to fishing and diving areas
-haggles over prices with the pearl divers
-buys them and brings them back to the marketplace
-again, Jesus is describing a very familiar scene
-something the audience could readily identify with…
-this merchant has very high standards
-he deals with hundreds of pearls…all the time
-reality is that not all pearls are valuable
-you will find pearls of all different shapes and sizes and values…
-So….this merchant is…..searching…he has an eye for special pearls
-the pearls he has found so far don’t measure up
-and so, he keeps looking….for the very best
-so, picture a man with the highest of standards
-see, pearls were the most precious gems back then
-people often bought them as investments
-but if he is not satisfied with everyday pearls, then you’re talking about a man who is a bit obsessed….
-he’s gotta have the best
-then suddenly, he finds the one! His search is over
-v.46 says…
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
-now, this does not mean that you can buy the kingdom of heaven
-you can’t buy it like you buy a field or a pearl
-remember, don’t get side-tracked….stay focused on the main point (tip #3)
-these are parables about kingdom value
-once you find it, you will do everything to get it
-whatever it takes
-whatever sacrifice it takes…you will make it…to get it
-again, the kingdom of heaven is really about a relationship between the king and His people
-and so, let me say it this way
* nothing should be more valuable than a relationship between you and your king
-And so, Jesus presents these 2 ways of finding a relationship with God
-2 ways of finding the King….
-the first way is the way of the plowman
-he finds the treasure by chance
-is almost like a freak accident
-he was not looking for it
-but, he finds it….and he responds to it
-there are plenty of examples of finding God this way….
-I think of Charles H. Spurgeon
-considered to be one of the greatest preachers of all time
-grew up in a Christian home…went to church
-but didn’t have a genuine relationship with God
-one New Year’s morning when he was 15 years old, he decided to attend church
-as he walked to church, the snow and the cold wind became unbearable
-so much so that he ducked into a small store….just to get out of the cold and snow
-he looked up and there was a worship going on in that small church
-the preacher was not there yet because of the fierce snow storm outside
-so, one of the leaders stood up and began preaching
-Young Charles…was listening and in his own words, he said…. “the man was really stupid”
-the leader didn’t have much to say so he just repeated the same thing over and over again
-But suddenly that leader stopped and looked to the back of the room at the 15 year old boy standing there shivering from the cold
-the leader said….
“Young man, look to Jesus! Look, Look, Look!”
-not much of a sermon
-no carefully prepared words
-no powerpoint presentation
-nothing special
-sometimes, you don’t need a good sermon…
-young Charles recalls that moment and writes: “I looked, and then and there the cloud was gone and the darkness rolled away and that moment I saw the son.”
-he wasn’t looking…but he found it
-his testimony is the parable of the plowman
-I remember hearing a testimony of the converted Muslim
-he told the story of how he was making fun of Christians
-and how he attended a Bible study just to spy on Christians and ridicule them
-there at the study, a Christian gave him a copy of the Lord’s Prayer
-he said that he went into a room and began reciting the Lord’s
prayer in a mocking way
-lifting his eyes up and saying….how ridiculous
-Our father, who art in heaven?????
-are YOU our father???
-and he said that in that moment God revealed himself in a powerful way
-and he came out of that room with his new found faith
-his is the story of the plowman who accidentally found great treasure
-remember John Newton – slave trader?
-wasn’t looking for the kingdom but found it
-wrote Amazing Grace: was blind but now I see….
-so many examples….maybe you…have this kind of testimony
-others will have a testimony like the merchant who find a pearl of great value
-the merchant is…the second way of finding God
-he aggressively looks for it
-his standards are super high – and he won’t compromise
-he initiates…he goes out of his way to find the kingdom
-and Scripture abounds with examples of people who show initiative
-no one has to hold their hand
-theirs is a heart that actively searching
-since the moment Jesus was born, there have been “spiritual merchants” looking for him
-there was the old man named Simeon…waiting near the temple courts for the messiah to come
-when he sees the baby Jesus, he takes the baby in his arms and praises God saying
-“my eyes have seen Your salvation” Luke 2:30
-to the tax collector in Luke 18
-filled with a sense of his own sin
-cannot even approach the front of the worship room but falls to his knees and begs for God’s mercy
* and of course, in this important season, we remember the magi from the east who went out of their way to find the savior born
-so many more examples: Ethiopian Eunuch: Acts 8:26f; Cornelius Acts 10:1-8; Lydia Acts 16:4; Jailer Acts 16:29f; Bereans Acts 17:10f; Centurion Matt.8; Queen of Sheba, Matt.12, etc…
-maybe you have such a testimony
-the way of the plowman…the way of the merchant
-either way, what is found is something worth sacrificing everything for
-far better than any to be gained here on earth
Matthew 16:26
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
-truly, the kingdom of heaven…a relationship with the king is of great value to us
-let’s end with the life of the Apostle Paul
-his story is that of the plowman
-he was not looking for the kingdom
-actually, he was looking to destroy the kingdom
-but on his way to Damascus, God finds him
-and he surrendered ALL to Christ
-later he would give his testimony in Php.3:7-8
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ.
The Parable of the Mustard Seed and Yeast also are back to back parables with the same message. Click:
The series of parables in Matthew 13 ends with a tragic event. Click to find out:
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