“Treasure Hunt”
Text: Matthew 13:44-52
7-30-2023
In the name of Him who has made us His treasured possession, dear friends in Christ. For the past 2 weeks we’ve been hearing parables from Jesus in Matthew 13. Actually, this is a unique chapter because it contains 7 parables back-to-back. That being the case, this is probably a good time to review what a parable is. The word comes from combining two Greek words: “para,” which means beside, and “bole,” which means to throw. So, a parable is a story that is set alongside of, or runs parallel to, the truth that someone is trying to convey. It’s a very effective teaching tool because the illustration is more vivid in our minds than some abstract concept. Which explains why Jesus used parables so often. He was teaching deep, spiritual truths about God, our sin, and His precious gift of salvation through faith in Him. In order for that to sink in, He told these stories that people could easily remember and ponder on.
Well, today, we have 3 short parables strung together. All of them serve the same purpose of teaching us about the kingdom of God and how we enter it. So, let’s dig deeper into them and hear what Jesus is telling us about our salvation. The first 2 are quite similar so we’ll look at them together. These short parables focus on the great value of possessing the saving Word of God by faith. And the question posed to us concerns our attitude towards that precious treasure.
As always, we need some background to get at the true meaning. Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. That may sound odd to us because we have banks to deposit our money in. But you know, it wasn’t all that long ago when people didn’t trust banking institutions with their treasures. They literally put money in mason jars and buried it in their backyard or stuffed it in mattresses. I can remember my Mom and Dad helping a friend sort through her deceased parents’ home. Do you know what they found? There was cash and silver dollars hidden all around that house in very unusual places. It was squirreled away in coat pockets, jars of money stuffed in the floor joists, and valuables hidden in other nooks and crannies. Well, this was also a common practice back in Jesus’ day. The intriguing thing is that they had a “finders keepers” rule. So this man who stumbles across the treasure actually had a right to it. But apparently, he wanted to make sure that no one would contest his claim to the treasure, because he sells everything he owns to buy that field. In that way, he guaranteed that he legally possessed the hidden prize.
Okay, before that image leaves our minds let’s understand what Jesus was teaching by it. He says the kingdom of heaven is the treasure in this story. In other words, the precious message of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ is the treasure and it’s found “hidden” in the field which is God’s Word. It’s not only “hidden” in the Bible, but also the preaching and teaching of that Word. Now don’t get hung up on the word hidden, as if God is trying to conceal the good news. It’s there for anyone to find or discover. You could say, it’s hidden in plain sight. But it’s only hidden to sinful minds who refuse to look for it where God has promised to reveal it.
Sadly, some folks think it’s absolute silliness to look for God’s treasure of forgiveness in the unlikely “field” of Word and Sacraments. They think, “Seriously? Are you saying that God conveys His words of Law and Gospel through a frail, human preacher? Or forgiveness and salvation is found in simple water, bread, and wine?” To some, it’s foolishness and therefore they walk right past the treasure. And yet God tells us that the Christian Church is the dispenser of His hidden treasures of eternal life. Also, it’s significant to note that the man in the parable didn’t do anything to earn that treasure. He found a treasure that he didn’t have to work for. Likewise with the good news of salvation. We didn’t do anything to earn it. Christ filled that treasure chest for us through His atoning death on the cross. We found it and possess it simply by grace.
Now comes the main thrust of the parable. Having discovered this treasure, the man goes and sells all his possessions in order to get it. I think the spiritual implication for us should be obvious but let’s say it anyway to make sure no one misses it. Christ is calling us to give up all that we hold dear, everything that’s precious to us, forsaking it all in order to possess His treasure of salvation. We must be willing to sacrifice it in order to follow Him. That’s what His disciples of all ages have done, recognizing the incomparable worth of what God offers us through Jesus. That’s true of Pastors who certainly don’t enter the ministry to become rich or famous. But it’s also true of faithful parishioners who willingly sacrifice of their time, labor, and money in order to serve the Lord.
Next, we have the parable of the Pearl of Great Worth. The main character changes, but really it makes the same point. This merchant is in the business of buying and selling valuable gems. As he’s sifting through a bunch of pearls, he discovers the proverbial “Hope Diamond” of all pearls. Perhaps it was dirty and looking kind of rough. But he recognizes its true value and, like the man who found the treasure, this merchant is willing to sell all he owns to buy this incomparable pearl.
Here again we can point to the fact that the merchant didn’t do anything to create that valuable pearl. Likewise with the precious Gospel of salvation. It’s there to be “found” by us. The only difference in this parable compared to the first one is that the main character goes diligently searching for this most precious gem. Some of you are probably getting ahead of me and can already see the spiritual application. If the pearl is the precious Gospel, then the main thrust of this parable is about how we are to give up everything up in order to possess it. We are encouraged to diligently search the Scriptures for they contain God’s Word of salvation which is of greater value than all earthly philosophy and wisdom. They are costume jewelry when compared to the Pearl of God’s Word. As in the previous parable, we are called to willingly give up all that this world holds up as priceless in favor of “owning” the precious truth of God’s Word.
Now, those applications are certainly proper. But there is another way to look at these two parables. Invert them. It’s very appropriate to say that God is the man who finds the hidden treasure, which is us. He gives up what is most dear to Him in order to possess it. That’s what He did. He “found” us dirty, and buried in our own sins. And yet He saw our worth. Our worth is solely due to His love for us and wanting us to be His own. Likewise, we are that pearl whose true value is concealed. We’re dirty with sin, but God sees our future worth as He plans to polish us clean with His forgiveness and make us into His priceless possession. So He willingly gave up what was most valuable to Him, His Son, in order to obtain us. He “purchased” you with the precious blood and death of Jesus.
With that understanding in mind then let’s talk about how Jesus is calling us to live out our lives now in light of all this. Let’s be up front and honest. There are plenty of times when we find ourselves looking pretty messed up and dirty with sin. We do and say things which will make people wonder sometimes if we are even Christians. And yet, we are still God’s treasure, His pearl of great worth. Through our Baptisms and through daily contrition and repentance, Christ cleanses us of all our sins. Keep that in mind and you will begin to see the priceless treasure of souls that God has claimed right here in His field. With the eyes of faith, you will see what Christ sees. You’ll see the hidden treasure in the souls of the people who surround you; here in worship and everywhere you go.
I know, I know. Some of you are dying to say, “But Pastor, you forgot to tell us anything about that last parable. Even if it takes another 15 minutes, please help us understand it.” Okay, that’s wishful thinking. You were actually hoping I forgot about it. Well, have no fear. That last parable about the good and the bad fish really just wraps up and puts a bow on what we learned about the treasure and the pearl. Like we saw last week, God alone knows who the unbelievers are amongst the saved believers. He'll sort it all out on Judgment Day. And it won’t be pretty for those who have despised the treasure of His sweet Gospel. We certainly don’t want that to happen. That’s why we urge all of our members, and everyone else, to come here in worship to tap into this wondrous treasure of God’s grace. We don’t want any of them to miss out on God’s glorious treasure prepared in heaven for all who believe and worship Him. So, may we together forsake all worldly things as we firmly hold onto this most priceless treasure of salvation. Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria!