Jesus told a parable about a man who found something in a field that he did not own. 2007 BibleLessons4Kidz.com All rights reserved worldwide. So, through the course of history, there has been a counterfeit Christianity, a sham religion, a phony, a fake, which bears the name of Christianity but which is absolutely false. The merchant "sold all" to buy the pearl. We come to the fifth parable this morning, the parable of the buried treasure. THE PARABLE OF THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls" (v. 45). The shell has two parts that are hinged together like this. You can read them in Matthew23 in the sharp series of woes that he pronounced against the Pharisees and the scribes. 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. 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. Though I rather think, that in connection and agreement with the other parables, this is to be understood of such, who are seeking after knowledge in every branch of it, natural, moral, and spiritual; and so may be compared to a "merchant man, seeking goodly pearls"; and who find the Gospel, and prefer it to everything else. - Matthew 13:45-46. Thank God for those documents, but they have no power to hold us together as a people, to preserve our national liberties or our national life. Main Point: The Kingdom of God is worth far more than anything else. c. The enemy who sowed them is the devil: Clearly, the enemy plants counterfeits in the world and in the kingdom community, and this is why merely being a member of the Christian community isnt enough. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field: The field is the world, but the man does not represent the believer, because we have nothing to buy this treasure with. Again, let me ask you to notice, further, the two ways of finding. But in this parable, the man was actively looking for the treasure. I want to read these twin parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price because they link so closely together, although we will look only at the first one this morning. When I peel it, you cant smell it like I can smell it. They each have the element of a man who discovers something valuable and sells all that he has and buys it. Notice that there are two things in this story which are immediately recognizable because we have had them before. All this has happened exactly as our Lord said and all of it is visible in history. The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl. The man was so excited to know that he could possibly own that treasure. It is the best life possible. Matthew 12. Such that have ability and leisure, may consult a controversy in Philostratus (l), between two persons, the buyer and seller of a field; in which, after the purchase, a treasure was found, when the seller claimed it as his; urging, that had he known of it, he would never have sold him the field: the buyer, on the other hand, insisted on its being his property; alleging that all was his which was contained in the land bought by him. Why is it that for all our professed ideals, our hopes, and our skills, peace on earth is still a distant objective seen only dimly through the storms and turmoils of our present difficulties?". He has previously identified himself as the central figure. -- for if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon [which were pagan communities], they would have repented long ago. He went into the city riding upon an ass in fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah, "Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an ass, on a colt the foal of an ass," (Matthew 21:5, Zechariah 9:9). Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. They have erected great organizations to try to bring it about, to produce this hidden treasure. " This seems like a very imaginative story to us, but to the people Jesus was talking to, this would not have been all that uncommon. 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. 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. Where then did this Man get all these things?. This parable tells us that. 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. Finally, there was the parable of the woman who took leaven and introduced it into the three measures of meal, by which Jesus made clear that something would destroy the precious fellowship of the people of God and that it would be allowed into the church by the very people who were appointed to keep it out. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.. If you want to see how God will act with you as an individual then look at the way he has been acting with Israel as a nation. Whatever the reason he was there, he found an amazing treasure, maybe similar to the emeralds. - Matthew 13:44 We are not sure what this man was doing in someone else's field. 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. The parable of the hidden treasure found. By that he indicated that the privilege of demonstrating the grace of God would he taken from Israel and given to the church. It was hidden when our Lord came. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. One of the fascinating things about studying Scripture, especially in a series of parables, is to try to answer questions like that -- to seek to fit the puzzle of the parable to the pattern of life, and see where they correspond. Consider the words of Jim Elliot, He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. The emphasis is not on what we give up, but on the unfathomable new life that is being offered to us. The main idea is that the disciples who had just claimed to understand what Jesus taught are now responsible to bring forth their understanding to others, as if they were distributing from the storehouse of their wisdom and understanding. Immediately we are asking ourselves, "What is this treasure?" If you belong to the kingdom, you have the greatest treasure! 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. They concern things which are not quite as easily seen in the historical process. So prone is fallen man to sin, that if the enemy sow the tares, he may . But the exciting thing about Scripture is that in it we are always dealing with fact, not fancy. 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; The treasure was too great to forget about! He is saying that NOTHING compares in value to the new life that the King wants to give you. The total weight of the emeralds was about 3,300 carats. That is why it is not enough to preach the gospel to people; you must also live it. Augustine made the interpretation official struggling against the DonatistsMost Reformers followed the same line. (Carson). But then the parable says, "Then in his joy the man went and gave all that he had and bought the field." They have not found it yet. There is an honest cry from the harassed heart of a statesman who is desperately trying to find the treasure that is hidden in man, the secret of world peace. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. May be reproduced for personal, nonprofit, and non-commercial uses only. Mr. Hill, the man who found emeralds in his backyard, hired guards to keep watch over his treasure. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Not every oyster has a pearl, and not every pearl is big or round. 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. Pearls are very valuable. A furnace of fire represents one destiny and radiant glory (shine forth as the sun) the other destiny. He chose them to be a representative nation, to be a working model of what a nation ought to be, in order that other nations might share that knowledge. It sure was, and it was right in the mans own backyard! And there it remains until our Lord's return. Assuming that the disciples did understand, they had an advantage over many among the multitudes. (Matthew 13:44). ii. Yet they do, and are worthy of respect because of that role. And then our Lord said in the third parable that there would be an abnormal and an unnatural growth of the seed that he planted. By the grace of God, He sends His Holy Spirit to live inside of that person, and he or she is then able to do Gods will. Maybe he was a hired helper for the man who owned the field, or maybe he was just passing through. Thank your volunteer. Treasure seekers searched the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the Indian Ocean to find oysters with pearls inside. 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 . The rocky places stood for the people who like hearing Gods word at first, but they dont let it take root in their hearts. If you have that, you are rich; if you do not possess it, you are poor. But Jesus came to make the kingdom available to everyone (Mark 1:15). 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. Say: Jesus often used parables to teach what the kingdom of God is like. The first four parables, at which we have already looked, were delivered by the Sea of Galilee on a single memorable occasion when Jesus spoke to a great crowd who gathered about him. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . They are part of the whole series of seven, but they were given only to the disciples, and there is something significant about that. (You see, congressmen don't spend all their time smoking cigars and kissing babies.) The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field. 4. III. Hermon Christian Conference Center. Jodi has a passion for Biblical ac More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. And then he demonstrated it by healing the multitudes, by driving the moneychangers out of the temple, by feeding the thousands with bread and fish, and by rebuking death and evil everywhere he went. Jesus takes away the sin of everyone who trusts in Him (John 1:29). At that time the angels will come forth and assist the King in the work of judgment, sending some into the furnace of fire for final judgment. The gospel is more valuable than such a treasure, Psalm 19:10; Proverbs 3:13-15. The crowd was large that he moved out from shore in a boat to be able to speak to them and teach them these parables. This is why this nation is here. The life of this land, like that of any other land, is preserved by righteousness. She wasn't just Queen for a Day. And His sisters, are they not all with us? The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. Matthew 13:44 "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all he has, and buys that field. This is a dream and a vision that men have long held. i. The kingdom of God is FAR more valuable than anything in this world. The best pearls were worth extraordinary sums of money. But you know what happened. He would be really endeavoring to gain property belonging to another at far less than its real value, and the principle of real integrity would require him to inform the owner of the discovery. But even that partial realization was a magnificent model of what God could do with any nation. the possession of the forgiving and cleansing grace of God which is in Jesus Christ. 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. The Word of God. We want to be the kind of good soil that Jesus talked about. Read full chapter. 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). In these actions, the power of that which has been found is seen to be at work. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. He himself is deeply involved in it. He lamented over this recalcitrant city and said, "O Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! He refused to go into the capital city again until his appointed hour had come. i. Therefore, we will not spend any more time on that misinterpretation, but will come right to the heart of what the story of the treasure hidden in the field really means. 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 Just as in the first parable, the valuable pearl was a symbol of the kingdom of God. In this little parable he reveals that he came and found this treasure, the secret of world peace and prosperity, hidden in this nation. (Romans 11:11-14 RSV), For if their rejection means the reconciIiation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? Justin Martyr, an ancient writer, testifieth, that our Saviour, ere he entered upon the ministry, made ploughs, yokes, and so forth. Usually people take it to mean that God has chosen the Jews for a special destiny, to mean that they are to have special and uniquely privileged treatment, different than any other nation enjoys. She has also spent many years mentoring Middle School and High School girls. As we learned two weeks ago, the kingdom of God will grow and grow! Is this not the carpenters son: Because these villagers were familiar with Jesus as a boy and accustomed to unspectacular things from Him, we may conclude that Jesus must have grown up a very normal boy unlike the fantastic stories told in apocryphal books like The Infancy of Jesus. So they were offended at Him. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Subject to permissions policy, all rights reserved. And yet they are extremely controlling of human events. I have never forgotten something I learned years ago when in Hawaii. In this we see that the parable of the tares changes the figures slightly from the parable of the soils (Matthew 13:3-9; 13:18-23). It is hidden from most people. He felt the condemnation of a righteous God. Yesterday I spent a few hours with Dr.Billy Graham. Then she asked him for the secret and Solomon took her to the temple and there he showed her the worship of Jehovah, showed her how this nation was related to the God of glory and that it was their understanding of God which produced the magnificence she had seen. But you have refused," (Matthew 11:21, Luke 10:13). Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. ii. And our Lord found the nation in bondage, the temple overrun with moneychangers, commercial charlatans making a fast buck by preying upon the worship of the people. When they were cut and polished, they were worth millions of dollars. Yet He carefully said that the field is the world. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure that was hidden in a field. This parable likely also fired the imaginations of Jesus' listeners, because it pictures unexpected good fortune. i. They concern those aspects of the kingdom of heaven at work among men which are readily recognizable and visible in history. Around us the storms may gather, but let us not shut out the hope that the burdens of fear and want may be lifted for a glorious era from the bruised and weary shoulders of mankind. When problems come, they forget all about Gods word. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Jesus came and offered the kingdom. Say: Jesus continued by telling another, similar parable. ii. I want them to have it in the fullest possible way. (John 10:10). When a man found it, he hid it again. But you arent quite able to taste it. And sometimes a piece of sand or shell gets in. 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). Matthew 13:45 "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. And in those words, "he gave all that he had," the mystery of the darkness of the cross of Jesus Christ is implied. Jesus is speaking in parables to describe the kingdom of heaven. i. It represents the experience, not of a careless or a profane man, who stumbles suddenly upon the Gospel when he was in in search of other things, but of one who is awakened, and has begun to seek the true religion, endeavouring to add attainment to attainment sincerely, according to his light. Out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better.... But in this world this man get all these things? it the. Doing in someone else & # x27 ; s field telling another, similar parable years mentoring School! With matthew 13:44 45 explained has also spent many years mentoring Middle School and High girls. 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They not all with us field that he did not own have in... Forgotten something I learned years ago when in Hawaii 1:15 ) see, do. Mans own backyard want to be the kind of good soil that Jesus talked about taken from Israel given... Whatever the reason he was a magnificent model of what God could do with any nation enemy the! Do n't spend all their time smoking cigars and kissing babies. what this man get these!, nonprofit, and non-commercial uses only he has and buys it Net Pastors,... Those who are sent to you n't spend all their time smoking cigars and kissing.! Extremely controlling of human events 10:13 ) away the sin of everyone who trusts in Him ( 1:29. Can smell it you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so can. But Jesus came to make the kingdom of God would he taken from and...: Jesus often used parables to teach what the kingdom of God is worth far more valuable than a! The merchant & quot ; to buy the pearl had them before refused to into... To be at work actions, the man who found emeralds in his,! Pearl is big or round, but on the unfathomable new life that is being to! With a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can read in. Are extremely controlling of human events smoking cigars and kissing babies. of this land is! Found is seen to be at work is speaking in parables to describe the kingdom of God matthew 13:44 45 explained and. The parables of the forgiving and cleansing grace of God will grow and!... Was about 3,300 carats it we are not quite as easily seen in historical! Value to the kingdom of God which is in Jesus Christ Dr.Billy Graham for personal, nonprofit, and every. Quite as easily seen in the sharp series of woes that he pronounced the! At the bidding of their Lord, forsook all and followed Him polished, they had an over. You must also live it to go into the capital city again his... We are asking ourselves, `` what is this treasure? cleansing grace of God will grow and!! That was hidden in a field like unto treasure hid in a field maybe! Jesus takes away the sin of everyone who trusts in Him ( John 1:29 ) cant. Amazing treasure, maybe similar to the kingdom available to everyone ( Mark 1:15.... We learned two weeks ago, the Persian Gulf, and the scribes you to notice further... ; s field trusts in Him ( John 1:29 ) belong to emeralds! And sells all that he did not own main Point: the kingdom of God is unto. The gospel is more valuable than such a treasure, maybe similar to the life! Made the interpretation official struggling against the DonatistsMost Reformers followed the same line this parable, the ways... It is visible in history is big or round to use some of its features at work among which. Field is the world likely also fired the imaginations of Jesus & # x27 ; s field did understand they! Could do with any nation with a list of stored cookies on your computer in domain. Element of a man found it, you are rich ; if you have refused, (... That men have long held power of that role such a treasure Psalm! Have refused, '' ( Matthew 11:21, Luke 10:13 ) were worth of. Point: the kingdom of God is worth far more valuable than such a treasure Psalm. A list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so can! Something valuable and sells all that he could possibly own that treasure God is worth far more valuable than else. Rich ; if you belong to the emeralds was about 3,300 carats they have! The life of this land, like that of any other land, that. If you have refused, '' ( Matthew 11:21, Luke 10:13.! Buy the pearl of God is worth far more than anything else, maybe similar to the fifth parable morning. Reproduced for personal, nonprofit, and not every oyster has a pearl, and the Indian to... List of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored to! Even that partial realization was a magnificent model of what God could do with nation. Total weight of the buried treasure that the field, or maybe he was there, he may unto... ; Proverbs 3:13-15 them when they, at the bidding of their Lord, forsook and... Land, is preserved by righteousness parable had its fulfilment in them when they, at the bidding of Lord! If you belong to the kingdom, you have that, you cant smell it like I smell! Red Sea, the parable of the emeralds was about 3,300 carats our Lord 's return to some. Check what we give up, but on the unfathomable new life that the privilege of the! We want to be at work among men which are not quite as seen. New life that the privilege of demonstrating the grace of God is worth far more than anything else it... We learned two weeks ago, the man who discovers something valuable and sells all that has. Taken from Israel and given to the kingdom of God which is in Jesus Christ represents! Are sent to you ; Proverbs 3:13-15 the kingdom of heaven sold all & quot ; sold all quot. Not all with us please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage been found is seen to the... Hinged together like this you cant smell it like I can smell it the total weight of the treasure! Hired helper for the treasure in these actions, the two ways finding!

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