Jesus announced Gods kingdom, and this would lead many of his hearers to expect a cataclysmic disruption of society, an immediate and absolute division between the sons of light and the sons of darknessIt was to this impatience that the parable was primarily directed. (France). Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he . So prone is fallen man to sin, that if the enemy sow the tares, he may . The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field. All this has happened exactly as our Lord said and all of it is visible in history. The battle is over the control of man who was created by God and was endowed by God with the power of choice. Jesus came, he says, and found a treasure hidden in humanity. But you arent quite able to taste it. The rocky places stood for the people who like hearing Gods word at first, but they dont let it take root in their hearts. And the nations of earth will never learn this righteousness finally, until Israel stands once again as a nation before God, recognizing the presence of God in their midst and providing a working model of how every nation ultimately shall be run by the provision and power of God. It is knowing the Father, the King. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . They have erected great organizations to try to bring it about, to produce this hidden treasure. II. That treasure is the lost secret of how to get along with other nations, how to discover peace and prosperity and happiness and all the many results of peace that men have been seeking after for centuries. And the crowds who had followed him, the multitudes who had hung upon his words faded away. Matthew 13:44-46 The Word of God . 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. As we learned two weeks ago, the kingdom of God will grow and grow! In these actions, the power of that which has been found is seen to be at work. In the short course of the three and a half years of our Lord's ministry he uncovered the treasure of Israel, the secret of this nation's life. the which when a man hath found; either with or without the use of means, purposely attended to, in order to find it; such as reading, hearing, prayer, and meditation: for sometimes the Gospel, and the spiritual saving knowledge of it, are found, and attained to, by persons accidentally, with respect to themselves, though providentially, with respect to God; when they had no desire after it, or searched for it, and thought nothing about it; though by others it is come at, in a diligent use of the above means: he hideth; which is to be understood not in an ill sense, as the man hid his talent in a napkin, and in the earth; but in a good sense, and designs his care of it; his laying it up in his heart, that he might not lose it, and that it might not be taken away from him: anor joy thereof; for the Gospel, when rightly understood, brings good tidings of great joy, to sensible sinners. A small degree of knowledge is not sufficient for a preacher of the Gospel. i. God has said that if you will turn back to him, as Israel will some day, he stands ready to heal, ready to forgive, ready to wipe out all the failures, all the transgressions, and to begin in your experience to cause your life to blossom and to come into abundance. This parable likely also fired the imaginations of Jesus' listeners, because it pictures unexpected good fortune. Immediately we are asking ourselves, "What is this treasure?" This parable and the one following are different in character than the previous three. Instantly, the man knew that the treasure was incredibly valuable. The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a. I. He told me that this congressman had said that the House of Representatives today is struggling with the question: What is the relationship between peace in the individual heart and peace between nations -- world peace -- and how do you move from one to the other? The view was largely assumed by the early church fathers, and the tendency to interpret the parable that way was reinforced by the Constantinian settlement. You can check these in your browser security settings. We speak of the Jews as "the chosen people," and unfortunately a very grave misconception of that phrase has arisen. God has gathered this nation together again, brought in the people from the outlying countries of the world, gathered his dispersed from the four corners of the earth, and brought them back into the land. Commentary on Matthew 13:24-30. When our Lord came into the world and came to Israel he found that this treasure had been lost to the world. As long as Gods people are still in this world (the field), there will be unbelievers among them; but it should not be because Gods people receive unbelievers as if they were believers, ignoring either the belief or conduct of professed believers. The bigger and more perfectly round the pearl, the more valuable it is. How often would have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! If you have that, you are rich; if you do not possess it, you are poor. Instead, they are a call for us to desire the kingdom above all else. 'Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it . For Israel, even in rejection, even in failure, is still an example to the people of the world. The gospel is more valuable than such a treasure, Psalm 19:10; Proverbs 3:13-15. Jesus told a parable about a man who found something in a field that he did not own. Thus, the field from which the treasure is gathered would be the world just as the sea from which fish are gathered is the world, and this also just as the wheat and weeds are gathered from the field, which is the world. I. He revealed for a brief flash of time the glory that was Israel. ii. which is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, the truth as it is in Jesus, the glad tidings. Next week we will go on to see how this parable ties very closely with the next one, the parable of the pearl of great price. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." (Matthew 13:44) In our day, we can store treasure in the bank or in a safe deposit box. When he found it, what did he do? Pearls were especially valuable in Jesus day. d. The reapers are angels The Son of Man will send out His angels: We often dont consider that the angels of God have a special role in the judgment of the world. Share your treasure! It is listening to His voice. Teacher Note: These parables are not a plea for us to sell all we have in order to obtain the kingdom - for we truly have nothing to offer God (Ephesians 2:5-9). To follow knowledge, like a sinking star. Instead of being received by the rulers and leaders of the people he was rejected. which is to be understood not in an ill sense, as the man hid his talent in a napkin, and in the earth; but in a good sense, and designs his care of it; his laying it up in his heart, that he might not lose it, and that it might not be taken away from him: and for joy thereof; Assuming that the disciples did understand, they had an advantage over many among the multitudes. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. He hideth - That is, he conceals the fact that he has found it; he does not tell of it. Maybe he was a hired helper for the man who owned the field, or maybe he was just passing through. A crowd of children and humble folk were the only ones who recognized him and went ahead of him waving palm branches and crying, "Hosanna! The field is the world: Significantly, this parable illustrates not necessarily that there will be false believers among true believers in the church (though that is also true to some extent); otherwise Jesus would have explained that the field is thechurch. He, too, knew that nothing he owned could compare to the great treasure he had finally found. Of greater importance in the history of the church has been the view that this actually means that the field is the church. He himself is deeply involved in it. Some time ago, in addressing a crowd of 2,500 delegates from 57 countries of the world who were trying to find some way to world peace, he said these remarkable words: "What element is lacking so that with all our skill and all our knowledge we still find ourselves in the dark valley of discord and enmity? So did Jesus himself, at the utmost cost, buy the world to gain his church, which was the treasure which he desired. (Spurgeon), Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.. Message transcript and recording 1971 by Ray Stedman Ministries, owner of sole copyright by assignment from the author. In a land as frequently ravaged as Palestine, many people doubtless buried their treasures; butto actually find a treasure would happen once in a thousand lifetimes. He declared it in great messages like the Sermon on the Mount. Ask: Who can remember the four different soils Jesus talked about? Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. Psalms 135:4 KJV). He would never have called it that. The pearl is different than the treasure, and yet for both the Lord gave all that he had. To the ancient peoples, as we have just seen, a pearl was the loveliest of all possessions; that means that the Kingdom of Heaven is the loveliest thing in the world. (Barclay). His conscience is uneasy. And now, lastly, let us look at the point where the parables converge. In the dying of Jesus there, one element of what was accomplished was that he might finally purchase the right to set Israel again among the nations as a model nation so that the world might learn how to live in peace. When a man found it, he hid it again. With these clues that our Lord himself has given us, we now have the key to the understanding of this parable. c. He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief: It is truly remarkable that Jesus was, in some manner, limited by their unbelief. Now, lets turn to Matthew 13:44 and read what Jesus said about hidden treasure. He refused to go into the capital city again until his appointed hour had come. The oyster opens its shell to let water and food in. That means a change of mind, repentance, turning again to God and recognizing his presence in our midst. He entered into all of that. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. How do you find this secret? A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, and in his own house: We often have wrong ideas about what it means to be spiritual. You are in the heat of the battle, it rages around you. MATTHEW 13:45-46. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." Basic Supply List: Bible Construction Paper Crayons Candy Bar Sensory Table or large tote Rice They have not yet grasped again the lost secret of their nation -- that the nation which walks in right relationship to him, God will heal. When the world sees again a visible manifestation of what God intends a nation to do, then the nations will learn world peace. Nations are right to try to solve their problems and reconcile their differences. The shell has two parts that are hinged together like this. There is a man, and there is a field. Then it is up to us to sell all that we have, give it all up, and buy him at any cost. So he went away and sold everything he had. God is in control. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. 45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. However, Jesus did not deny their claim to understand. Pearls are very valuable. A buried treasure and a pricy pearl Matthew 13:44-46 44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. Pearls were highly prized in that time and place. Teacher: Show your pearls. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! And Congress is trying to put its finger on where you begin and how you relate peace of heart in an individual to peace among men. Learning Context: Sunday School Target Time Frame: 45 minutes Memory Verse: Matthew 13:44 "The kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. Even though these people had been looking for Gods kingdom, when they found it, it was far greater than what they had expected. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Then he covered it over again when it was rejected by the people. There is nothing wrong with that at all. Take off the glasses and bandana and allow the volunteer to eat the fruit. the possession of the forgiving and cleansing grace of God which is in Jesus Christ. There are banners and placards everywhere you go in America, crying out for peace. This week I was talking with Bill Gwinn, the director of Mt. When the man found the treasure, he could have covered it back up, gone about his business, and forgotten all about it. b. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house. Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. 44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. This story is very much like the first parable. (You see, congressmen don't spend all their time smoking cigars and kissing babies.) a. Is this not the carpenters son? Matthew 13, verse 44: "In his joy, he went and sold all he had and bought that field." These two short parables tell the story of the whole Bible. In the days of David and Solomon there was a demonstration to the world of their day of what God would do with a nation which was in right relationship with him. 3. But with those dark glasses on, you cant see all the nice colors. I can take a bite and taste the amazing flavors. And then he went and gave all that he had and bought the field in which it is hidden. Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? He promises that it will grow - and God ALWAYS keeps His promises! There Paul too tells us that God is not through with Israel. This is what Paul tells us in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh chapters of Romans. The wheat comes into Gods barn from all over the world, from all ranks of society, from all ages of Gods church. They said to Him, Yes, Lord. We wonder if the disciples really did understand Jesus here. The tares represent false believers in the world, the sons of the wicked one, who (like tares among wheat) may superficially look like Gods true people. We pray, Lord Jesus, that we may all apply this to our lives, and that we may understand that you desire to heal us and bring us right now into an experience of joy and glory and gladness and fruitfulness. (Romans 11:15 RSV). The nation's glory was gone. He bought the field in order that someday he might use that treasure to cause the whole world to blossom and to fill the earth with peace and happiness. III. He understands that even though he is selling everything to buy that field he is becoming exponentially richer because of the unseen treasure that will belong to whomever owns the field. But even that partial realization was a magnificent model of what God could do with any nation. They each have the element of a man who discovers something valuable and sells all that he has and buys it. It always reminds me immediately of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, of Long John Silver, and doubloons and pieces-of-eight, pegleg pirates, and all the exciting things usually associated with the idea of buried treasure. Listen for answers. He lamented over this recalcitrant city and said, "O Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! And for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field: The treasure so wonderful that Jesus would give all to purchase is the individual believer. It recognizes the allure and the mystery which always gathers around the notion of hidden treasure. The man was so excited to know that he could possibly own that treasure. People bring the same charge against Jesus today; I see those associated with Him, and they seem lowly or very normal; Jesus must also not be special., c. Where then did this Man get all these things: Their reception of Jesus was not welcoming or friendly. Before we read the parable, I want to tell you another true story. [That is, when God set Israel aside, he allowed his delivering word to go out directly to Gentile peoples everywhere so that they might be the visible demonstration of how God can heal and fulfill human life, and Israel was watching -- at least individual Jews have been, all along.] Here is the treasure that will make you rich, because it will pay your debts, and endow you with capacity enough to meet all future expenditure-viz. She was no inconsiderable monarch herself. a. This parable tells us that. iii. That means obedience. The treasure is the secret of international peace, of harmony among the nations. Finally, there was good soil. The parable had its fulfilment in them when they, at the bidding of their Lord, forsook all and followed Him. Such, it need hardly be said, has been the story of thousands of the saints of God in every age of the Churchs life from that day to this. Parables are stories about everyday people and things that help us understand spiritual truths. Jodi has over 20 years experience teaching children in large and small group settings. He found poverty and misery stalking the land. Bengel's Gnomen Matthew 13:45. They will come and study this little nation of Israel in which the secret of world peace has always been hidden, the strange, chosen nation for which our Lord gave his life. They put their trust in Jesus. May be reproduced for personal, nonprofit, and non-commercial uses only. goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that fieldin which case, by Jewish law, the treasure would become his own. The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls: Again, Jesus is the buyer and the individual believer is the pearl that He sees as so valuable that He would happily give all to have it forever. The success and glory of Jesus seemed only to make them more resentful towards Him. For permission to use this content, please review And they would remember the words of Psalm 135:4: For the Lord hath chosen Jacob [another name for Israel] unto himself for his peculiar treasure. i. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure that was hidden in a field. Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew uses the phrase kingdom of heaven while the other authors use kingdom of God, but they are one and the same.) A great misinterpretation of these parables has developed, quite without any basis in the systematic interpretation of symbols in Scripture, which has hidden their true meaning. After you have been instructed by me, you have the knowledge, not only of the things you used to know, but of things you never knew before, and even the knowledge which you had before is illuminated by what I have told to you. (Barclay), iv. The usual interpretation of these parables is that Christ is the hidden treasure and that he is the pearl of great price. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. If our country forgets that, it will lose its ability to stand as a nation among the other nations of the world. It is hidden from most people. There was no voice of God in their midst, no prophet speaking forth from God. He covered it up again, buried it again. 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