Sermon Central
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The Treasure Is In A Field Series
Contributed by Andrew Stringer on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: In Matthew 13, Jesus preached 7 parables that detail the history of His kingdom on this earth. In this parable, He tells of God's great love for believers, so much that He purchases the whole world to redeem a few out of it!
f. Christ has paid the price for the entire world to be saved, yet only a few will actually turn to Him in repentance and faith and be born again!
g. Even fewer of those who possess child-like faith in Christ will come from the Jewish nation!!!
h. The story of Ruth gives us a picture of this aspect of the parable (Ruth 4:1-8).
i. Boaz presents the offer of an entire field to Ruth’s nearest kinsman.
ii. He tells the man that for him to get the field, he has to marry the girl.
iii. The kinsman rejects the notion enabling Boaz to buy the field and marry Ruth!
iv. In this parable we see the same theme, but from the opposite perspective.
v. The nearer kinsman wanted the field (the world), but not the woman that came with it (Ruth)—much as Satan desires the world.
vi. Boaz, as a type of Christ, desired the woman (Ruth) and was willing to buy the field (the world) to obtain the her!
vii. Christ loved the woman (church) so much that He gave His life for the field (world)!
II. The Spiritual Implications
A. Christ’s Love for the World (John 3:16)
B. Christ’s Joy over the Discovery of the Treasure
1. “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).
2. “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:10).
C. The Worth of People to God
1. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).
2. The worth of just one soul is worth more to God than all of creation!
D. The Price God Paid (“…all that he hath”)
1. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (II Corinthians 8:9).
2. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (I John 4:7-11).
III. The Practical Application
A. The Field
1. The field as the church
2. The field as individuals within the church.
B. The Treasure
1. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth.
2. The church is our family—full of relationships we can treasure throughout all eternity!
3. The people in our church are our brothers and sisters in Christ!
4. Each Christian has the treasure of a human soul and the Holy Spirit within!
5. Sure, it is often hidden.
6. Sure, we notice things about the church or some Christians that seem to hide the treasures that lie within, but there is still hidden treasure to be found!
