(Text and Audio)
Title: A Tale of Two Parables
Today, after a three week hiatus from Matthew 13, we return to this great chapter of parables. If you recall, two weeks ago, we looked at that passage in Luke dealing with multiple perspectives.
Hopefully, you saw what I saw: that when we consider something from multiple viewpoints we will understand it more clearly.
Today, we will see Jesus employ a multiple viewpoint strategy in further explaining the concept of the Kingdom of Heaven to his disciples.
“Again”
Jesus, in the same discussion with the disciples where he explains the parable of the tares, after they ask him, gives three further, unsolicited explanations that will help them see the Kingdom more clearly. (Today we are looking at the first two of those explanations: The Hidden Treasure, and the Great Pearl. Next week we will explore the third, which is the Parable of the Dragnet.)
POINT: Jesus wants his disciples to grasp these concepts fully. He’s offering them many different parables, each with a slightly different perspective, but all are explaining the Truth of the coming Kingdom of Christ.
What concepts do these two Parables have in common?
The thing of value (treasure, pearl) is NOT recognized as valuable to everyone. Only a select few perceive it’s true worth.
The thing of value is “hidden” in plain sight. A field is not special, a pearl amongst many pearls is not special. Anyone can see it, but only a few will recognize it. Or should I say, everyone can hear it, but only a few have ears to hear it.
Once the treasure is recognized, the behavior changes immediately, and drastically. That one thing becomes all encompassing, all incasing, all important. Anything and everything will become about obtaining that treasure at any cost.
These types of reactions will look foolish to the world. Why would you sell all that you have for a mere field? Why would you sell all that you have for one pearl? You wouldn’t, unless you knew something that the masses didn’t. You wouldn’t, unless you believed, unless you knew, that it was going to be worth it to sacrifice everything to obtain it.
What are these Parables NOT saying? (And how do we know….)
Find your treasure and hide it!
And how can we be absolutely certain that this is not what Jesus is teaching us? Consider what Matthew records Jesus saying only 8 chapters earlier in Matthew 5:15-16 “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Swindle others to gain treasure for yourself!
Leviticus 25:14
If you sell land to one of your countrymen or buy any from him, do not take advantage of each other.
Leviticus 25:17
Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the LORD your God.
Also, this field and these pearls came a at HUGE price and sacrifice. In both Scenarios, the men had to sell EVERYTHING to be able to buy them. Remember: Salvation is free, and costs you your life.
Closing thoughts: Paul’s Parallels
Paul explains his understanding of how our behavior changes once we determine what is truly of value. Phil 3:7-8.
“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. yet indeed I also count all thing loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish that I may gain Christ…”
You see what Paul is saying here, it’s the perfect example of what Jesus is explaining in these two parables. Paul used to have a value and priority system that ranked things in his life very differently.
What changed?
His mind was illuminated by the Truth, and everything in his priority list was literally turned on it’s head.
He tells us that the things he used to love, the things he used to pursue, the things he used to crave, the things that used to motivate him…now, these things are garbage to him.
The truth of the Gospel, the reality of Jesus Christ the Messiah has put things into a new perspective, and all he craves, all that he loves, all that he pursues, all that motivates him is Christ and him crucified.
For the believer, everything is about Christ. That’s not just a slogan, that’s the reality of our being.
(Pray/Q&A)