He Taught Them Many Parables… (The Hidden Treasure And The Pearl Of Great Price) # 13

• We have safes in our homes to store such things as valuable Jewelry, and rare coins, etc.

• We have banks to store our money in

But back during the days when this parable was being taught by the Lord Jesus, people did not have these things. Most of the time when people wanted to store something of value, they would store it in the ground.

In this particular parable, a man was digging or plowing in a field, and he came across a treasure that someone had buried in the ground.

Let’s look at-

I. THE DISCOVERY OF THE TREASURE

It is amazing how we can find things of great value in some of the most unusual places.

• Through the years, bank robbers and pirates have hidden treasures on deserted islands, and some have come across these valuable treasures

• Some people have purchased houses, and when they went up in the attic to clean out the debris that had been there for years, discovered a painting or other item of great value.

• Some have gone to the local “Flea market,” and while going through what some consider to be no more than junk, they found a treasure of great value

Sometimes the things that we find as we go about in our every day lives are amazing.

Illus: In Columbia, South Carolina, some young men were hunting, when they came across a large safe that had been blown open by some robbers. The robbers, in fear of someone hearing the blast, grabbed as much cash as they could and fled. When the boys turned the discovery over to the police, many valuable coins had been left scattered all over the ground, and were worth a fortune.

We never know when we are going to come across a treasure of some sort.

This man was plowing, or digging in the earth, when he came across a treasure of great value.

But notice, he did not have enough money to buy the treasure, so he bought the field. And when he got the field, he also got the treasure.

There are some folks that teach that when you receive Christ, you then have to seek God to receive the Holy Spirit.

Listen, when you received Christ, YOU RECEIVED IT ALL!

In Colossians 2:9, we read, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

Acts 17:8, we read, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”

When you receive Christ, you receive all the treasures of heaven with Him!

Without a doubt, the hidden treasure here represents the Gospel of Christ.

That is, the gospel is too valuable to be bought, but once we receive Christ, we then possess the Savior and the Treasure.

We have looked at THE DISCOVERY OF THE TREASURE, but now let’s look at-

II. THE DELIGHT OF THE TREASURE

Can you imagine the joy of this man who suddenly came across this hidden treasure?

Look what the Bible says about this treasure. “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.”

Notice, the Bible tells us that once he DISCOVERED THE TREASURE, he had joy.

Let’s look at this treasure more closely, for example:

(1) IT WAS A TREASURE THE GENERAL PUBLIC DID NOT KNOW A THING ABOUT

If they had any idea about this great treasure that was buried, men and women from everywhere would have quit what they were doing and headed for that field.

Today, the general public has no idea what they are missing out on when it comes to the treasure we have in Christ. Every day that goes by without Christ is a day they never will be able to recapture and enjoy.

What a tragedy it is, that in the world in which we live, only a few know about the treasure of finding Christ as their Savior.

Illus: All over this nation, there are churches that are almost empty, but if people could discover the treasure they have in Christ:

• They would quit playing golf on Sunday

• They would quit fishing on Sunday

• They would quit attending their family reunions on Sunday

• They would quit vacationing on Sunday.

IF THEY ONLY KNEW! If everyone knew, there would not be enough churches in America to hold all the people.

(2) IT WAS A TREASURE THAT WAS WORTH SELLING EVERYTHING ELSE TO PURCHASE

Notice, the Bible says once he discovered the treasure, “…he selleth all that he hath and buyeth that field.”

Mark 8:36, we read, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”