Matthew 13:44-46 August 13, 2017 A+D
+ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. +
In the South, during the time Union soldiers began to occupy the homes of the local people for shelter in exchange for not burning them down at the height of the Civil War, families his their valuables in things like Mason jars. They buried their precious coins and jewelry in places only they would think to look – in the fields, with fence posts or trees their only marker. When the war ended, many heirlooms were recovered from their hiding places however, many were never found. Many decades later, treasure hunters began searching with metal detectors and the like and uncovered many of these jars of valuables. The owners were long dead, often their descendants untraceable. The treasure hunters are in it for the thrill of discovery and turn the coins or what have you over to the current owners of the land.
From time to time, treasures such as these show up on television shows like the Antiques Road Show. Appraisers go over the items and put an estimated price on them. Sometimes these items are found to be of great value. Only after the items are discovered and found to have great value to the new owners now have eyes to see something they never saw before. It was right there all the time, right under their noses. Hidden in plain sight.
Jesus told a parable about a treasure hidden in a field. He said a man found it and covered it back up – then he went and sold all that He had in order to buy the field.1 Times are very different today. They did not have banks in which to keep their money. There were no safety deposit boxes to store valuables and important documents. There were no safes. Times today are very similar in some ways, however. You have to be careful what you store in your home, don’t you? You never know who might break in to steal your stuff. We find places to stash our valuables, just like the folks during the Civil War, and people in Biblical times. If you hide it too well, you may forget where it is, and it becomes lost and, eventually, forgotten.
When a person finds faith in Christ, everything else becomes insignificant. That faith is like discovering a treasure where you least expected it. One who stumbles upon Jesus is like the man who finds the treasure buried in a field. Once he discovers the value of what he found, he will do anything to keep it. When we hear what Jesus, our priceless treasure, has done for us we cling to Him with all our might. The Samaritan woman at the well stumbled upon Jesus. When she heard what He had to say, she believed and clung to His promise. She ran to tell others what He had told her.2 The most beautiful thing about our priceless treasure Jesus is that we can be not only the possessor of the treasure but the appraiser who shares the news that this salvation belongs to the world. Even today, a Word of God may strike home in the most unexpected places! Zacchaeus3 stumbled upon Jesus – he wanted to see what all the hubbub was and climbed a tree to see better. He certainly found more than he was looking for! He heard about his sinfulness that night, but was moved by Jesus to repentance, and received His forgiveness.
Jesus told another parable, this time about a pearl of great value. He said the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who on finding a pearl such exquisite quality and rarity, went and sold all that he had so that he could buy it.4 The merchant represents someone who is seeking to satisfy a spiritual craving and actively looks for it in spite of the competition for his efforts. He realizes how lucky he is to find the pearl and recognizes its superiority over all other things. Jesus is the pearl.
The parents who brought their children to Jesus to be blessed by Him5 sought the pearl of great price. They understood that in Jesus was something to be joyfully received, and they wouldn’t stop until they obtained it for their children.
Look at the thief crucified next to our Savior. He found the pearl. He believed in who Jesus is. Look at what that dying sinner received from Jesus. A life for a life. A pearl of not just great price, but priceless. On that same day, Jesus promised, they would see one another again in paradise.6 Isn’t that what we all want? It is yours and mine because Jesus willingly paid the highest price to erase our debt with our Father in heaven. In return, we receive the most priceless treasure. Paradise.
Many people in the Bible found the pearl. Simeon was promised that he would see the Messiah before he died, and when he did, he said he could now die in peace.7 Many people find Jesus today through a friend talking to them, or hearing the words of Scripture. Many seek Him out, knowing there must be something more to our lives than just the day to day.
Some people will never find the priceless treasure. Many will come close, but sadly, will pass by the pearl – not recognizing its value to them. It is tragic that so many will step over the pearl to chase after worldly treasures: money, our jobs, the accumulation of “stuff.” They chase these other pleasures only to find death itself waiting for them, and no way to buy their way out of it. When eternal life is passed by, there can be only this result. And in hell, there are no pearls, only hot coals. No hope, only eternal torment.
God wants all mankind to believe in Jesus and be saved.8 He offers you the pearl, the treasure of the kingdom of heaven paid for by His son’s blood. How do you view Jesus? Is He alive and active here today for you? Are you taking advantage of His gifts for you when we gather in this place? Is Jesus a priceless treasure given for you? Or is He just another pearl on a string of beads in the back corner of a drawer. Are you satisfied with brushing up against Jesus now and again, hoping that something rubs off on you that you can take home?
Are you like the nine lepers who were healed by Jesus, and went off on their own way afterward – or are you like the one who returned to Jesus to thank Him for his physical healing, and then traveled along with Jesus to learn about His spiritual healing? What is it you seek? Are you even looking?
Is Sunday just an occasion to take out the treasure and look at it briefly for a few moments, like grandma’s china when company comes to visit, only to be put away again in the dark? That’s nothing but a once-in-a-while event with unintentional involvement. The company around the table becomes much more important than that with which the table is set. To our human reason, that makes perfect sense! But Jesus teaches us differently.
Jesus teaches us that He sets the table with Himself. Where His children gather, He brings out the best – and it’s not just for looking at. It’s for you to touch, like doubting Thomas. The pearl of great price goes into your mouth and tastes of honey. The priceless treasure enters your ears and sounds like the finest most beautiful music. A custom-made treasure just for you.
Don’t put Jesus in a secret hiding place! You might forget where you left Him! Wear your faith on the outside like your best clothes, let others see Him, too. Wear Him like armor that gives you strength, a quilt that warms you when the world is cold. Share Him with others. The most beautiful thing about the treasure we have in Jesus is that it never runs out. God mercy is infinite, and he welcomes you lovingly when you stumble. We often forget, but God places plenty of reminders in our path to lead us back to the priceless treasure. It is yours for the asking...
+ In the Name of Jesus, Amen. +
And now may the peace which surpasses all human understanding keep your hearts and your minds focused on Christ Jesus.
+ Amen +
κήρυξον τὸν λόγον
1Matthew 14:22.
2John 4:1-30.
3Luke 19:1-10.
4Matthew 13:45-46.
5Matthew 12:13.
6Luke 23:39-43.
7Luke 2:26-32. This is the text of the Nunc Dimittis.
8I Timothy 2:4.