Eternal Treasures
Is our focus on earthly kingdoms or the kingdom of God? How much do we treasure the things of God? Let’s examine heaven’s treasure in Matthew 13:44-52.
Like black mustard, the kingdom of heaven will grow large, not stay small like exclusive sects teach. Like leaven it affects everything. Like buried treasure, it is precious. Like a pearl merchant, people sell everything to obtain it. Like a dragnet, it gathers good and bad. Like a householder, it contains old and new treasures.
Treasure hunters include archaeologists and marine salvage operators. Two separate half billion dollar fortunes were recovered in 1985 and 2007. The most valuable treasure of all is the kingdom of heaven. It is in this world but buried. Would we be willing to sell everything for the kingdom of heaven?
Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44 WEB)
The buried treasure was probably discovered by chance, according to Thayer's Greek Lexicon. The pearl was found by someone searching. He too sold all that he had. Is anything worth more than the kingdom of heaven?
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one very precious pearl, he went and sold all that he owned and bought it. (Matthew 13:45-46 CEB)
Like a fishing net, the kingdom also gathers indiscriminately. Angels will confirm what we have already chosen. Let’s not neglect salvation.
The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a net is thrown into a lake and catches all kinds of fish. When the net is full, it is dragged to the shore, and the fishermen sit down to separate the fish. They keep the good ones, but throw the bad ones away. That's how it will be at the end of time. Angels will come and separate the evil people from the ones who have done right. Then those evil people will be thrown into a flaming furnace, where they will cry and grit their teeth in pain. (Matthew 13:47-50 CEV)
In marital love each provides both new and old for the other (Song 7:13). Faithful disciples are blessed with old and new treasures. The kingdom is a treasure trove of new and old stories. The old truths prepare for the cross and are given new life in the church.
“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” (Matthew 13:51-52 ESV)
Earthly treasures fade, but the new and old treasures of the kingdom of heaven are forever. Is the kingdom of heaven our greatest treasure? You decide!
Does familiarity breed contempt?
When Jesus had finished these parables, He left there. He went to His hometown and began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “How did this wisdom and these miracles come to Him? Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother called Mary, and His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, aren’t they all with us? So where does He get all these things?” (Matthew 13:53-56 HCSB)
Are we offended in Jesus?
And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. (Matthew 13:57-58 KJV)
Did Jesus hide the meaning of His teachings to those who were unreceptive? Does that teach us anything about spreading the Good News to those who do not want to listen? You decide!
