Parables Of The Kingdom Part Iv - The Hidden Treasure And Pearl

Title: “Parables of the Kingdom” Part IV Script: Mt. 13:44-46

Type: Expository Series Where: GNBC 2-17-24

Intro: Facebook’s $1 billion acquisition of Instagram was a watershed moment for Big Tech. It demonstrated just how much wealth and power the industry holds — and how it could be wielded. Secret emails, published as part of a historic antitrust hearing, revealed that Mark Zuckerberg viewed the app as a threat to his own social network, and one to be neutralized at great cost. In early 2012, Twitter had been aggressively courting Instagram for a potential acquisition. Instagram’s founders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, were wined and dined over sushi and breakfast at the St. Regis hotel. Twitter even put together a term sheet to acquire them for 7% to 10% of its stock, worth $500 million to $700 million. Facebook bought ended up buying the photo-sharing start-up for $1 billion in 2012, paying what seemed like a shocking sum of $1 billion for a company with 13 employees at the time! Now, Instagram has more than 1 billion monthly users, including 500 million daily users of the Stories feature, which was introduced in 2016 to compete against Snapchat. That growth has resulted in Instagram now being valued by analysts at more than $100 billion! (Credit articles from NY Times, CNBC). Like him or not, Mark Z. saw the potential in buying something at an enormous price, that has proved to be of inestimable more value than anyone else thought possible. Today we’ll examine 2 more parables in Mt. 13, which declare this same principle in relation to something inestimably more value than the net worth of FB or IG: The Kingdom of Heaven!

Prop: Exam. Mt. 13:44-46 we notice 2 parables that underscore the enormous value of the KOH.

BG: 1. The glorious nature of the Kingdom of Heaven is the subject of the parables.

2. Again we see Jesus pairing together certain parables in a chiastic fashion so as to reinforce a teaching. Does in Mt. 5,6,7,9,10, and here in 13.

3. Continues here his motif of the hiddenness and smallness of the KOH. However, instead of demonstrating it’s future explosive growth, Jesus is teaching its incomparable value.

Prop: Exam. Two parables in Mt. 13:44-46 we’ll notice the incomparable value of the KOH.

I. What Was the Purpose in Christ’s Parabolic Ministry?

A. To Select the Audience (vv.9-13)

1. Christ sought to exclude one set of listeners.

a. V.11 One set of people are preferred over another, and to the one who has more will be granted but to the one who doesn’t even what has will be taken away! Possibly this makes us feel uncomfortable. In some ways maybe our sense of “fairness” or “justice” is offended. Dear one, let me tell you that God’s sense of justice and fairness is absolutely perfect and He does not need to consult you or me so as to enquire of our standards.

b. JI Packer has said: “Although the doctrine of the sovereignty of God is a cause for debate amongst men, it is a matter for praise in the pages of the Bible.”

2. Christ sought to include another set of listeners. He says so right here in the passage. Look at v. 11. By implication He is saying this of you and me today. Why are you listening to an exposition of this passage today? Because you love Him, or at least you are curious about Him.

B. To Protect the Truth (Navajo Wind Talkers – never had code broken)

1. By Speaking in Parables Christ protected the Truth and Treasure of the KOH.

a. V.11 – Read – it’s been granted to know the mysteries… Strictly speaking, it does not mean, as we sometimes use it—when we speak, e.g., of the mystery of the Trinity, a truth which none can understand—something “very obscure”, but one which, kept a secret from others, has been revealed only to the initiated.

b. Dear one, if you have come to Christ, you have been let in on the GREATEST of all secrets! Certainly, that is what Jesus was saying when He said this to His disciples.

2. There was a value in keeping aspects of the KOH hidden from those who opposed Christ.

a. As Illust: When nations go to war armies utilize code to pass on information to those who need to hear it while hiding and obscuring it from those who would use the information for harm. It is a way of hiding its importance from the enemy. In 1942 the first class of 29 Marine Navajo American Indian Code talkers graduated into the service of their country. These men offered invaluable service to their nation and until 1968 program was never officially recognized. Their success was remarkable. NEVER once was their code broken by the enemy. Countless lives were saved as a result.