Dr. Bradford Reaves
CrossWay Christian Fellowship
Hagerstown, MD
www.mycrossway.org
The “Lady Blunt” is one of the finest violins ever crafted by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari. It was made in 1721 and is considered one of the best-preserved Stradivarius violins. In 1940, the violin was auctioned for £2,000 to the virtuoso violinist Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (ZHAHN-bah-TEEST Vwee-YHOM).
The violin then passed through the hands of several collectors and musicians until it was acquired by an anonymous British owner in the mid-20th century. This owner kept the violin under his bed for around 50 years, unaware of its value.
In 2008, this owner decided to sell the violin to raise funds for disaster relief efforts in Japan and China. The instrument was sold at auction by Tarisio Auctions for a record-breaking price of over $15 million, with all proceeds going to charity. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Blunt_Stradivarius)
In 2006, a Filipino fisherman named Palawan discovered an enormous pearl while fishing off the coast of Palawan Island in the Philippines. The pearl was found inside a giant clam caught in his fishing net. Unaware of the pearl’s value, the fisherman kept it as a good luck charm under his bed for ten years.
In 2016, after a fire forced the fisherman to relocate, he brought the pearl to his new home. Eventually, his family decided to seek advice on the pearl’s value. They contacted gemologists who verified its authenticity and assessed its value at approximately $100 million, making it one of the largest natural pearls ever found.
https://nypost.com/2016/08/23/a-fisherman-kept-this-100m-pearl-under-his-bed-for-10-years/
For many years, John and Mary took daily walks along a trail on a section of their property called Saddle Ridge. However, in 2013, as they were walking their dog, they noticed an old can sticking out of the dirt. Curious, they brushed away some moss, used a stick to dig it out, and carried the heavy container home.
The couple living in California’s gold country discovered a cache of 19th-century U.S. gold coins that rare coin experts say is the greatest buried treasure ever unearthed in the United States. The coins, dating from the mid-19th to early 20th century, were worth over $10 million.
The “Saddle Ridge Treasure” includes the 1866-S No Motto Double Eagle, which is valued at around $1 million. The couple had no idea about the treasure hidden on their land until they discovered it.
“I thought an old miner with a mule was going to appear any second,” John said in an interview.
“It was like finding a wonderful hot potato,” Mary added. “I never would have thought we would have found something like this; however, weirdly, I feel like I have been preparing my whole life for it… The answer to our difficulties was right there under our feet for years.”?
https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-gold-coins-california-backyard-20140225-story.html
I love these kind of stories. These ordinary people stumble upon priceless treasures in unsuspecting ways that change their lives. What is even more inspiring about these stories is that the treasure was, as Mary said, right under their feet. These types of stories also are real-life illustrations of Jesus’ Parable of the Hidden Treasure found in
Matthew 13:44
“The Kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then, in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44)
As we have learned, parables are short stories or visual illustrations Jesus used to reveal the hidden mysteries of the Kingdom of God. As I’ve said before, parables were not used to teach morals in the same way Aesop’s Fables were; rather, they were meant to provide a spiritual understanding of two truths about the Kingdom of God that we cannot know on our own.
In the Parable of the Hidden Treasure, Jesus reveals five essential principles for understanding the Kingdom: 1. Priceless Value, 2. Shrouded Visibility, 3. Personal Sacrifice, 4. Personal Commitment, and 5. Profound Procurement. Let’s go over each one in detail.
Priceless Value
Notice first that Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven as a treasure. The word “treasure” in the Greek sounds like our word “thesaurus.” The idea behind a thesaurus is to explore every possible way of stating an idea. In the same way, everything that really needs to be known or said is rooted in Christ. (Credit: Sermon Central)
The Scottish writer and theologian Thomas Guthrie said it this way, “In the blood of Christ to wash out sin’s darkest stains, in the grace of God to purify the foulest heart, in peace [of God] to calm life’s roughest storms, in hopes to cheer guilt’s darkest hour, in a courage that defies death and descends calmly into the tomb, in that which makes the poorest rich, and without which the richest are poor indeed, the Gospel has treasure far greater than east or west unfold and its rewards more precious are than all the stores of gold.”
if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:4–5)
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)
Nothing in the Universe matches the incomprehensible value of the Kingdom of God. We are heirs of God. The vastness of the Universe, every galaxy and star, and every atom that exists are His. He created them; they are nothing compared to His glory and what is contained in His heaven. God says that the fool pursues the earth's treasures and abandons his inheritance in heaven.
The rewards are far more significant. The joys are far more lasting. The hope is far-reaching. Eternity is far longer than any temporary morsel in this world. The very knowledge of God through Jesus Christ and the understanding of what we will behold to be in his Kingdom and fellowship with the king is beyond comprehension. Nothing comes close to value. In fact, the very least and poorest in the Kingdom of heaven, if there is such a thing, we’ll have in their possession a value far more significant than any riches of this world could ever provide. The treasure is beyond our ability to understand.
And so Jesus likens this treasure and our relationship to it as a vast treasure hidden in a field. And he compares us to a man who only by chance discovers it. When he finds it, he covers the treasure back up and sells all that he has to be able to go and purchase the field. Now, at this point, we find ourselves in an ethical situation. Because somebody might say, “Wait, doesn’t this guy have an obligation to go and tell the man who owns the field about the treasure?” Isn’t there some deception that’s happening here?
Well, that is not the point of the Parable. However, Rabbinic law says that if someone finds scattered fruit or money, it always belongs to the finder. “Finders Keepers” So, under Jewish law, the man is allowed permission to find and keep the treasure. Secondly, He could have just uncovered and taken the treasure at that point. Instead, he pays the man who owns the field for the value of the land. In reality, these arguments go beyond the purpose and scope of why Jesus was teaching this Parable.
Shrouded Visibility
The second point of this Parable Jesus teaches is the shrouded visibility of the Kingdom. The treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven is obscure to the world, and it is blind to it. There may be several reasons why, by nature, the world is blind to it.
It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. (Proverbs 25:2)
This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 13:35)
1. Sin is one of the main obscures of the Kingdom of Heaven to us. When you’re spiritually blind, you can’t see Christ because you have hardened your heart and won’t come to the knowledge of the truth. “One great power of sin is that it blinds men so they do not recognize its true character.” Andrew Murray
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
2. Spiritual deception of this world is another top reason why most people will not see the Kingdom of Heaven. The world looks at us, and they don’t understand why we’re all about this business of worshiping God. They don’t understand why we want to give our lives to Jesus Christ. They don’t understand why we want to live and obey a code of ethics and rules that goes against the desires of our flesh.
In their case the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
knowing this, first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? Ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:3–4)
3. Are carnal understanding of the nature of God and his ways are another reason why most of us would not be able to easily see the value of the Kingdom of Heaven
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. (Ephesians 4:17–19)
4. Perhaps one of the most mysterious aspects of the Kingdom’s hidden nature is that God himself does not allow carnal man to see the Kingdom of heaven on their own
But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. (1 Corinthians 2:7)
Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, 40, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” (John 12:39–40)
Personal Sacrifice
Jesus tells the crowd that when the treasure is discovered, he will sell all he owns with great joy. The point is that treasure is unattainable without abandoning the things of this world. This is the point of many of Jesus’ parables. You have a man here in this Parable, and you have another man in verse 45 of the Parable of the Pearl. We’re dealing with individuals, and each finds something and must himself appropriate the treasure.
This shows us that we are not brought into the Kingdom through group association. We’re not riding into the gates of heaven on the coat tales of another person, organization, denomination, or any other means. Our entry into the Kingdom of Heaven is through personal appropriation. Now, you may say, isn’t personal sacrifice a works-based entry? The answer to that is no, because the sacrifice by which we enter is through the substitutionary shedding of Jesus’s blood. The only way that transaction happens is by laying down our abilities, righteousness, and strengths.
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7–8)
But also notice that there is joy behind the man who is going and giving up everything he owns for this treasure. The realization of the Kingdom of God is so magnanimous that no man can stand to even hold on to anything because he’d rather have all that God can give him than hold on to the treasures of this world. Yes, the Kingdom of God is attained through personal sacrifice, but it is a joyful sacrifice because through Christ, we become rich in God, and we realize that by surrendering the treasures of this world, we are laying aside a burden.
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide, and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. (Matthew 7:13)
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)
Personal Commitment
The Parable highlights the personal commitment required to obtain the Kingdom of heaven. It emphasizes the necessity of prioritizing and pursuing the Kingdom above all else, even if it means sacrificing worldly possessions or comforts. This Parable taught by Jesus underscores the all-encompassing nature of commitment.
Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21)
But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
The man in the Parable had to take action to receive what he discovered as valuable. Friends, you also have to take action. The treasure of heaven is right before you. With joy, you can lay down the promises of this world for the promises of eternity with God. But you can’t have it both ways. The true Christian is committed to pursuing the Kingdom above all else, even if it means giving up the world’s comforts.
Profound Procurement
In this Parable and the Parable after this, Jesus says that the treasure is bought. Now some people will swarm a little at this: “Wait, you can’t buy your salvation.” And yes, you just can’t buy your salvation with money. But listen, there is still a transaction that must take place for your salvation. There is profound procurement for your eternity.
And you know what that transaction is and what it means. I’m talking about the cross of Christ and the redemption of your soul that took place at the cost of his suffering. But don’t miss the point here. Because I think too many people come to church, and they think it’s just about saying a quick prayer and wha-la, you’re in the club. That’s what Dietrich Bonhoeffer calls a “cheap grace period,” which is not salvation.
The transaction that purchased your pardon and your eternity was through Christ and by Christ alone. But look what he demands of us. That we leave everything behind, take up our cross, and follow him.
25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:25–33)
That is what Jesus meant when he said that after finding the treasure in the field, the man sold all that he had and bought the field.” Salvation by grace through faith alone is more than simply mouthing the words “Jesus is Lord.” We are not saved by a profession of faith. We are not saved by praying the Sinner’s Prayer. We are not saved by signing a card or walking an aisle. We are saved by a living and active faith (James 2:14-26), manifesting itself in repentance, obedience, and love of God and our neighbor. Salvation is not a transaction; it’s a transformation. Paul says it best when he says we are “new creations” in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). There is nothing “cheap” about grace! (Got Questions)
ABCs of Salvation
