Sermon by Pastor Troy Redmond.
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.
Jesus used 12 parables to describe the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus likened the kingdom to, a man sowing seed that fell on different types of soil, He likened it to a man who sowed his field with good grain and an enemy sowed weeds behind him, He likened it to ten virgins (wise and unwise), and He used yeast as an example, (Along with others.)
Of these 3 for today, first the kingdom is the treasure, second the kingdom is the man searching, and third the kingdom is the net.
The kingdom like a treasure:
Before getting into these parables, we must understand that Jesus is using worldly allegories to reveal heavenly truths.
All of them together do not fully explain the kingdom of heaven.
Paul wrote that the mystery has been hidden from the ages.
Colossians 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
He writes to the Ephesians that one of the roles of the church is to reveal this mystery.
Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Let us return to the treasure in the field.
There are quite a few commentaries trying to explain this parable.
Is the treasure Jesus or the church? Is Jesus the man who found the treasure, which is us, and give up His deity and life to purchase us?
If the man discovered the treasure and hid it until he purchased the field, wasn’t he deceiving the landowner?
Does the man who found the treasure represent the gentile nations that did not seek the God of Abraham? (It doesn’t say he was looking for treasure.)
Isaiah 65:1 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
Some commentators like the merchant in the parable of the pearl of great price to Israel.
(They considered themselves to be seekers of God.)
Study and meditation on these are okay, but we should not get lost in the examination.
Occam’s Razor: the simplest solution should be used. (14th century theologian)
The simple teaching on these two parables is that there is a treasure that is worth everything to possess.
We cannot buy salvation, let that be clear, but there is a cost to following Christ.
Luke 14: 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Jesus makes it plain in other verses that He must have preeminence in our lives.
This is not a requirement to throw away our families, quite working, or live in a monastery; it means that all things in our lives should be place in proper priority.
Saul of Tarsus was an individual who was confronted with the treasure he was seeking.
Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
(Skipping down.)
V.11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom would appear; He said it didn’t come with observation; it is within us. (Luke 17:20)
Paul might have been with the group that asked Jesus this; he uses the internally abiding nature of the kingdom, (treasure) also.
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Because he knew the value of this treasure, he endured all the afflictions it cost him.
(There is and will be a cost of discipleship.)
There is a cost in not being a disciple also. (This brings up the next parable in Matthew 13.
The kingdom is like a net that catches all types of fish, which are then, separated good from bad.
Matt.13:49 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.
In the 5th chapter of Matthew (Jesus’ sermon on the mount) Jesus teaches that we should get rid of anything that will prevent us from entering heaven. (Eye or hand)
Let us return to chapter 13 in closing, Jesus asked the disciples a question concerning the net and the angels in relation to the judgment.
Matthew 13:51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.