The Parables Of Jesus - The Hidden Treasure (Mt 13:44)

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                        "THE PARABLES OF JESUS"

                     The Hidden Treasure (Mt 13:44)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our study on "The Parables Of Jesus", we have seen...
   a. Different ways in which the message of the kingdom would be
      received ("The Sower")
   b. The efforts of Satan to corrupt the character of the kingdom, but
      its future consummation in purity and splendor being assured
      ("The Wheat And Tares")
   c. The growth and development of the kingdom ("The Mustard Seed" &
      "The Leaven")

2. Each of these parables are found in Matthew 13, and as we continue
   to examine that chapter we find more to come...
   a. A couplet of parables is found in Mt 13:44-46
      1) "The Parable Of The Hidden Treasure"
      2) "The Parable Of The Pearl Of Great Price"
   b. Like the couplet of "The Mustard Seed" and "The Leaven", in which
      a similar theme was found, there seems to be a theme common to
      these two parables
      1) The theme of the earlier couplet was the "growth and
         development" of the kingdom
      2) The theme of this couplet appears to be the "preciousness and
         value" of the kingdom

[In this study, we shall focus on "The Parable Of The Hidden Treasure",
beginning with...]

I. THE PARABLE EXPLAINED

   A. THE DETAILS OF THE PARABLE...
      1. A man finds a treasure hidden in a field
      2. He first hides it, then proceeds to buy the field
      3. Though he must sell everything he has in order to buy the
         field, he does so gladly in anticipation of the treasure that
         will then be rightfully his

   B. THE MEANING OF THE PARABLE...
      1. Here is the explanation as given by two commentators:
         a. "The kingdom of heaven is worth infinitely more than the
            cost of discipleship, and those who know where the treasure
            lies joyfully abandon everything else to secure it." (D. A.
            Carson)
         b. "...the kingdom of heaven, the glad recognition of God's
            rule over heart and life, including salvation for the
            present and for the future, for soul and ultimately also
            for the body, the great privilege of being thereby made a
            blessing to others to the glory of God, all this, is a
            treasure so inestimably precious that one who obtains it is
            willing to surrender for it whatever could interfere with
            having it." (William Hendriksen)
      2. What distinguishes this parable from the one following is that
         it describes the value of the kingdom to one who accidentally
         finds it
         a. Though not purposely looking for it, its value is
            immediately recognized
         b. So the kingdom of heaven has been, and will be, for many
            people!
      3. As Hendriksen says again:  "...we should grasp its one
         important lesson:  the incalculable preciousness of salvation
         for those who discover it and obtain possession of it without
         even looking for it!"

   C. THE APOSTLE PAUL AS AN EXAMPLE...
      1. He discovered the "treasure" unexpectedly
         a. It was on the road to Damascus, going to persecute
            Christians - Ac 9:1-2
         b. For he thought it was the right thing to do - Ac 26:9-11
         c. But once he met the Lord, and learned the will of God, he
            did not hesitate to carry it out even at great cost to him
            - Ac 26:19-23
      2. His estimation of what he found
         a. Something worth giving up all, if necessary - cf. Php 3:4-11
         b. Writing of "the gospel of the glory of Christ", Paul refers
            to it as a "treasure" - 2Co 4:7
         c. He writes of the "treasures of wisdom and knowledge" that
            are found in Christ - Col 2:1-3

[Clearly Paul considered Christ and His kingdom a "treasure" worth
giving up all one had if necessary to obtain.  What is there about the
kingdom of Christ that makes it so valuable?]

II. THE KINGDOM OF EXCEEDING VALUE

   A. A REFUGE FROM THE POWERS OF DARKNESS - Col 1:13
      1. Outside the kingdom of heaven, one is in the kingdom of Satan
         - Ep 2:1-3
         a. Under his influence
         b. Trapped in various sins
      2. But the kingdom of Christ offers deliverance, refuge
         a. We are set free from the guilt and dominion of sin, so that
            we can serve God - Ro 6:17-18
         b. God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to
            bear - 1Co 10:13

   B. A DOMAIN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, AND JOY - Ro 14:17
      1. A righteousness through faith in Christ, in which our sins
         have been forgiven - Php 3:8-9
      2. A peace from God, which surpasses all understanding - Php 4:6-7
      3. An abiding joy in the Lord, no matter the circumstances - Ph
         4:4; cf. 2:17-18

   C. AN UNSHAKABLE KINGDOM - He 12:25-29
      1. One which shall never be destroyed - cf. Dn 2:44
      2. Therefore, a truly everlasting kingdom - cf. 2Pe 1:10-11

   D. DESTINED FOR ETERNAL GLORY - 1Co 15:21-26
      1. Presented by Christ to God at His second coming, those who are
         truly "sons of the kingdom" will "shine forth as the sun in
         the kingdom of their Father" - cf. Mt 13:41-43
      2. From that time forward, those in the kingdom will experience
         the ultimate fellowship in the presence of God - Re 21:1-5,
         9-12,22-27

CONCLUSION

1. In light of both the present and future blessings found in the
   kingdom of heaven, perhaps we can appreciate why many consider the
   kingdom one of exceeding value
   a. Even when not actively looking for it, but stumbling across it...
   b. ...the value is recognized immediately by some, willing to pay
      whatever price necessary

2. What is the value of the kingdom?  I wish you could ask...
   a. Stephen, the first Christian martyr - cf. Ac 7
   b. The early Christians, who experienced persecution - cf. Ac 8:1-4
   c. The apostle Paul, who suffered so much for the kingdom - cf. 2 Ti
      3:10-11; 4:6-8,16-18
   d. Our loved ones who died in Christ - Re 7:9-17
   e. And of course, our Lord Jesus, who gave up all to make it
      possible - cf. Php 2:5-8
   -- I am confident that with one voice they would say, "It is worth
      it all!"

3. How about us?  Are we willing to pay the full price to obtain the
   "treasure" of the kingdom?
   a. The price of repentance? - Ac 3:19; 17:30-31
   b. The price of complete submission to the will of Christ? - Mt 28:
      18-20; Ac 2:38
   c. The price of putting the kingdom first in our lives? - Mt 6:33

Our response to the gospel, and how we live our lives as Christians,
demonstrate our true estimation of the "treasure" of the kingdom of
heaven!
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