- As shared by Pastor-Evangelist, Rev. Don Schink, (C) 2004

 

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. 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 NIV.

1. THE PARABLE EXPLAINED:

The details of the parable are this: A man finds a treasure hidden in a field. So the first thing that he does is to hide it. Then he proceeds to buy a field. Though he must sell everything he has in order to buy the field, he does so gladly in anticipation of the treasure that will rightfully be his. He was very careful to go through the proper channels so that the property, as well as the treasure on the property, were rightfully his.

The Apostle Paul is a great example of this! He discovered the "treasure" unexpectedly. It was on the road to Damascus, going to persecute Christians, as seen in Acts 9:1-2, where we read, "¹Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest ²and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem." He thought it was the right thing to do, as seen in Acts 26:9-11. Paul testified, "⁹"I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ¹⁰And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. ¹¹Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them." But once Paul met the Lord, and learned the will of God, he did not hesitate to carry it out even at great cost to himself, as seen in Acts 26:19-23, where Paul testified, "¹⁹"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. ²⁰First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. ²¹That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. ²²But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen-- ²³that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles.""

Paul’s estimation of what he found was that it is [1] Something worth giving up all, if necessary, as seen in Philippians 3:4-11, "⁴though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
⁷But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. ¹⁰I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."

In his writing of "the gospel of the glory of Christ," Paul refers to it as a "treasure", as seen in 2 Corinthians 4:7, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

Paul writes of the "treasures of wisdom and knowledge" that are found in Christ, as we read in Colossians 2:1-3, "¹I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. ²My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ³in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Paul clearly considers 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? Let’s look at:

1. THE KINGDOM OF EXCEEDING VALUE:

It is a refuge from the powers of darkness. In Colossians 1:13, we read, "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves" Outside the kingdom of heaven, the Bible shows one to be in the kingdom of Satan, as seen in Ephesians 2:1-3, "¹As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ²in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." As such, one outside the kingdom of heaven who is in the kingdom of Satan is (a) under his influence and such a one is (2) trapped by various sins.

But the kingdom of Christ offers deliverance and refuge! As such, we are set free from the guilt and dominion of sin so that we can serve God! In Romans 6:17-18, we read, "¹⁷But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. ¹⁸You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."

God also gives us a precious promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

The kingdom of Christ is the kingdom of exceeding value as a domain of righteousness, peace and joy. In Romans 14:17-18, we find, "¹⁷For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, ¹⁸because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men."

It involves a righteousness through faith in Christ in which our sins have been forgiven. In Philippians 3:8-9, we read, "⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith."

There is a peace from God, which surpasses all understanding. In fact, in Philippians 4:6-7, we read, "⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

There is also an abiding joy in the Lord, no matter the circumstances. In Philippians 4:4, we find, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" In Philippians 2:17-18, we read, "¹⁷But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. ¹⁸So you too should be glad and rejoice with me."

This kingdom of exceeding value is an unshakable kingdom, as we see in Hebrews 12:25-29, "²⁵See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? ²⁶At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."^{[1] 27}The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
²⁸Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ²⁹for our "God is a consuming fire."" It is the kingdom that shall never be destroyed! In Daniel, 2:44, we find, ""In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever." Therefore it is truly an everlasting kingdom! In 2 Peter 1:10-11, we read, "¹⁰Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, ¹¹and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

This kingdom of exceeding value is destined for eternal glory. In 1 Corinthians 15:21-26, the Bible says, "²¹For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²²For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. ²³But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. ²⁴Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. ²⁵For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶The last enemy to be destroyed is death." 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" (Matthew 13:41-43).

From that time forward, those in the kingdom will experience the ultimate fellowship in the presence of God! In Revelation 21:1-5, we read, "¹Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ²I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
⁵He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."" Verses 9-12 read, "⁹One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." ¹⁰And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. ¹¹It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. ¹²It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel." In verses 22-27, we read, "²²I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. ²⁴The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. ²⁵On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. ²⁶The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. ²⁷Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life."

1. Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts, chapter 7);
2. The early Christians who experienced persecution (Acts 8:1-4);
3. The Apostle Paul, who suffered so much for the kingdom (2 Timothy 3:10-11; 4:6-8, 16-18)
4. And of course, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave up all to make it possible. In Philippians 2:5-8, the Bible relates, "⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
   ⁶Who, being in very nature God,
   did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
   ⁷but made himself nothing,
   taking the very nature of a servant,
   being made in human likeness.
   ⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
   he humbled himself
   and became obedient to death--
   even death on a cross!"

Are we willing to pay the price of complete submission to the will of Christ? In Matthew 28:18-20, we read, "¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Are we willing to pay the price of putting the kingdom first in our lives? In Matthew 6:33, the Bible says, "³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." After all, Jesus already paid the ultimate sacrifice!

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Scripture quoted is from the: New International Version (NIV)
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