Treasures and Traders
Text: Matthew 13:44-46
By: Ken McKinley
(Read Text)
In this passage, Jesus is teaching us about the Kingdom of heaven. Matthew is the only one who uses the phrase, “kingdom of heaven,” the other gospels us the phrase, “kingdom of God.” Basically there is no difference in meaning between the two; it was just the preference of the author.
But what exactly is the kingdom of heaven, or the kingdom of God? Well we get the word kingdom from the word dominion, or domain. So these phrases are referring to God’s dominion in Christ, or we could say; God’s rule and reign and will in Christ Jesus. Now God’s rule, reign and will is eternal. It covers the entire creation and all the nations and powers and authorities within creation. But the thing is that this rule and reign and will is recognized only by God’s people and it’s contested by unbelievers and the powers of darkness. There will come a day however, when every knee will bow and ever tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
So in a sense, we can say that the kingdom of heaven is future. But in another way we can say it is a present reality in the lives of believers. I guess we could say it this way, the rule and reign of God is a present reality that will be fully realized and recognized when Jesus returns.
And so Matthew begins this passage by relating two parables of Jesus that tell us something about the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like…”
Now let’s look at out text again and listen closely as I read it to you (Read text). Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure that was hidden in a field in the first parable. What does He say the kingdom of heaven is like in the second? If you said pearl of great price, you’re mistaken. Don’t feel bad because for years that’s what I thought He said as well. A lot of Bibles even have that as a title above the parable. “THE PARABLE OF THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE!”
But that’s not what Jesus said, in-fact that’s why I’m preaching on this tonight, because I noticed something for the first time reading this passage. Jesus said in the second parable that the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls; not the pearl itself.
Jesus tells us that the kingdom of heaven is like treasure and traders. Not
T-R-A-I-T-O-R-S, not people who betray their king or kingdom, traders, T-R-A-D-E-R-S.
In those days, pearls were one of the rarest and most precious of all gems. 2000 years ago they didn’t have oyster farms, they didn’t have scuba gear. So pearls were very rare and very valuable. I once read that Cleopatra owned a pearl that would be valued at over 12 million dollars today; and that’s the kind of pearls this merchant was looking for, high quality pearls, flawless pearls.
Well the man in the parable doesn’t find pearls (plural), he finds A PEARL, “one of great value.” In other words it was one of those flawless, high quality pearls. It was so valuable that he sold everything he had in order to buy it.
Now if you’re like me, you’re sitting there wondering how the kingdom of heaven is like this merchant. Well look what he did. He sought out pearls; he found one of great price and then gave up everything in order to obtain it. This tells us that the kingdom of heaven is what seeks and finds. It is the kingdom that sacrifices all and obtains the treasure. It is the kingdom that finds a pearl of great price, and obtains it at all costs. It is the rule and reign and will of God in Christ Jesus that finds the pearl of great value.
The pearl is not the kingdom – which is usually what we think. The pearl is something the kingdom seeks and finds, and then sacrifices greatly to obtain. The pearl is you and I.
In-other-words; you and I are of immense value and worth to God.
Turn with me to 1st Peter 2:5 – 9 (read).
You see; we are like that pearl. And when we see this we realize the amazing price that Jesus paid for us. He gave up everything for us. God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son… that’s what John 3:16 tells us. 1st Peter chapter 1 verses 18 – 19 tell us that we were not redeemed with perishable things like gold and silver, but that it cost Jesus his precious blood in order to buy us back from sin. Philippians chapter 2 verses 6 – 8 tell us that Jesus made Himself nothing, that He came in the flesh, and humbled Himself, even to the point of being obedient to death.
And this wasn’t just any kind of death – it was the death of a criminal… the death that we should’ve died, not Him. Death on a cross!
Do you see what was given up to purchase you? God gave up His one and only Son. Jesus gave up the glory that was His since eternity, He gave up His throne in heaven, He humiliated Himself and humbled Himself and took on human flesh. He suffered and died at the hands of sinful men on a cross. All for our sake.
Turn with me to Hebrews 12:1 – 3 (read). What was the joy that was set before Him? It was you and I. We’re the pearls!
So in this second parable we have the good news. The Gospel of the kingdom
But what about the first parable? “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field…”
Well we just talked about how in the second parable the kingdom finds us and purchase us. The Bible tells us that no one comes to Jesus unless they are drawn by the Father. In John 6:44 Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me, draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” God in Christ takes the first step. He always takes the first step so that we can enter the kingdom. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
But in this first parable we are told that the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure… God’s rule, reign and will is like a treasure that when a man finds it he hides it, and then sold everything he had in order to buy the field.
What this first parable is teaching us is that we are to live lives of devotion to the rule, reign and will of God in our lives. Psalm 119:11 tells us that if we hide God’s word in our heart we are less likely to sin against Him. The Bible tells us that we are sanctified by the truth, and that God’s word is the truth. And so it’s an incredible treasure, that we should hide deep in our hearts, and die to ourselves so that we might live unto Him.
This first parable is talking about our response to the rule, reign and will of God in our lives.
Jesus Christ gave all for you; what have you given for Him?
The man in the first parable was so filled with joy at the sight and thought of the treasure that he gave up everything for it. He was totally devoted to the treasure. And Gods rule, reign and will in our lives is like a treasure (at least it should be). It’s valuable, it’s precious, and it’s worth everything. This is what Jesus was telling us in Matthew 5:29 where He says, “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away…” He wasn’t saying to literally poke your own eye out, He’s trying to make a point about the devotion that is required to follow Him. He makes the same point in Matthew 10:38-39 where He says, “Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will loose it, and whoever looses his life for My sake will find it.”
He’s talking about devotion. He’s talking about being a doer of the word, like we touched on a little bit this morning.
“For what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet looses his own soul?”
In-other-words, what can compare with the riches of God in Christ Jesus?
And if we answer that question and say there is nothing that can compare with it, then why do we hang on to things like we do?
Our devotion to the kingdom of God, to the dominion of the King; the rule, reign, and will of God, should be so great that we are willing to renounce the things of this world.
In-fact Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength
Do you love God that way?
Of course; if you’ve never seen the treasure of the kingdom, then this is too much to ask. The price is way too high. But for those of us who have been found and bought by the King, our joy is so great we will renounce everything, as much as we have, for the sake of the kingdom.
CLOSING PRAYER & INVITATION
