Question

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A Hidden Treasure

Matthew 13: 44-52

Key Verse: 13:44

1. Read verses 44-46. What does the parable of the hidden treasure teach about the kingdom of heaven? The parable of the pearl of great value? How can we have a Christian value system?

2. Read verses 47-50. How is the net let down into the lake like the kingdom? What does this parable teach about the end of the age?

3. Read 51-52. Why did Jesus want to make sure that his disciples understood? What does the verse 52 mean? What is new treasure?

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Attachment

• A Hidden Treasure-questions.docx

Message

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A HIDDEN TREASURE

Matthew 13:44-52

Key Verse: 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

  In 2009 a Virginia woman bought a napkin-sized painting for $ 7 at a flea market. Later the painting was identified as Renoir’s painting which values more than hundred thousand dollars.  How wonderful our life will be if we find a treasure which has great value by chance or by our own effort. Where is such a valuable treasure which we can buy with all we have. What is it? In today’s passage Jesus answers these questions. I believe that some of us have already found it while others are still looking for. If you have already found the treasure, please keep it until you see Jesus Christ face to face. Do not lose it. Don’t sell it, either. If you didn’t find it yet, I pray that you may find it today. Amen

First, the parable of the hidden treasure (44) Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom of heaven continues. Look at verse 44. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”  The history of Israel was the continuation of one foreign invasion after another starting from Canaanites, Babylonians, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, and so on. Because of the foreign invasions the assets of the Israelites was unsafe and insecure. Some rich people hid their treasures in secret places and died without telling to anyone. In today’s parable, probably the field had been owned by one rich man who had been exiled to Babylonia. Before he was exiled to Babylonia, he hid his treasure in his field and didn’t tell anyone even to his children. He thought that he would come back. But he died in the foreign land and the treasure had been hidden from generation to generation. After a few hundred years later, one young man was working in the field, plowing and sowing. One day his plow was hit to a hard object. He thought that it was a rock. But when he dug it out, it was the treasure box. The treasure box was exposed under the sun after a few hundred years later.

  When the man opened the box, there were all kinds of precious stones and jewels such as gold, silver, rubies, diamonds, sapphires, topaz, emerald, and so on. His eyes were popped out and he doubted his eyes. He quickly closed the box and looked around if anyone who was watching over him. He hid it again in the field and in his great joy went home. He acted as if nothing had happened to him so that no one could recognize his secret. But he could not sleep that night. He was full of thought of the treasure. He thought again and again how to possess the field. The field was not his own. He didn’t have enough money. Next morning he collected all he had and even borrowed some money from his friend in order to buy the field. People thought that he was crazy. They did not know the reason why the man sold all he had and bought the field. On this earth he is the only one who found the treasure hidden in the field. He is the one who deserves to possess the treasure. Is he not a wise man? Do you envy him? If say ‘yes’, listen to Jesus’ another story.

Second, the parable of the pearl (45)   Look at verses 45,46. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Whereas the man in the previous parable found the treasure by accident, the merchant in this parable was looking for fine pearls. He must be an expert about pearls. He appreciated the value of pearls and hunted for excellent and flawless pearls. He traveled around the world to find the pearls. He visited all jewelry stores and pawn shops to find the pearls. One night in a gorgeous seafood restaurant where he was dinning, he heard the news that a few days ago a female customer named Mary found a big and beautiful pearl from the oyster in her dish. The merchant searched for Mary and finally found her and saw the pearl. He immediately recognized that it was not an ordinary pearl, but an extraordinary pearl which values more than million dollars per piece. This is it!  In his great joy he went away and sold everything he had and bought the pearl. Do you envy the merchant, too? If say ‘yes’, listen to what I am saying about the treasure.

  In these two parables, one found the treasure by chance and the other found the pearl through his unceasing hunt. But, the two stories have the same point: They appreciated the great value of the treasures, and both sold all they had in order to buy them. The treasures were worthy of their sacrifice and investment. Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like this. The kingdom of heaven has surpassing great value which is worthy of our whole life sacrifice and investment. Some found the kingdom of heaven by chance like Levi the tax collector who met Jesus Christ. When Jesus called him, “follow me”, Levi left everything to follow Jesus. Others found the kingdom of heaven like the pearl merchant through their efforts. The Magi traveled a long distance from the east to Jerusalem to worship the King of the Jews. (Mt 2:1-12)They risked their lives to meet the Messiah. When they saw the baby Jesus lying in a manger, they were overjoyed. They presented their gifts, worshiped him, and returned home. Their sacrifice and devotion were not worthy of compared to finding the true object of worship.

  Through the stories of Levi and the Magi we learn that Jesus has surpassing worth of our sacrifice and devotion. Levi left everything and followed Jesus. When he followed Jesus, he became Saint Matthew. St. Matthew saw the kingdom of heaven in Jesus.  When the Magi saw the baby Jesus who was lying in a manger, they saw the kingdom of heaven in him. Both St. Matthew and the Magi saw the kingdom of heaven in Jesus.

This is not the only story for Levi and the Magi, but also the story for the Apostle Paul. Paul said in Colossians 2:3, “Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge…” In Philippians 3:8 he says, “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ…” Paul, who used to be named Saul, was a Pharisee and a great scholar under the rabbi Gamaliel. He was a man of standing in his generation. But he considered everything trash in order to know Christ Jesus and to be found in him. Why? Was he crazy? No! He was not crazy. He was wise to appreciate the great value of the heavenly treasure, the kingdom of heaven, which comes from Jesus Christ.

Where is the kingdom of heaven and how is Jesus related to the kingdom of heaven? Why does the kingdom of heaven have such surpassing worth? In place-wise (location), the kingdom of heaven is in heaven, not on this earth. The kingdom of heaven is our permanent dwelling place after we die on this earth. John the Apostle describes the kingdom of heaven in Revelation 21 as a new heaven and a new earth. He said, “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look? God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be my people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  These verses clearly tell us that there is the kingdom of God in heaven, where God rules and reigns. What a wonderful place it is, where God reigns with his justice and peace. There is no more death, sin, pain, cancer, diseases, fear, terrorists, ISIS, and so on. Our God himself will be with us and we will be with him forever. Amen!

Above all in the kingdom of heaven our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who took away our sins on the cross, will welcome us as his brides.  We, God’s people, will become his beautiful brides and join the heavenly wedding banquet. Jesus will say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Because you were faithful to me to the point of death, I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev 2:10) Then the Lord Jesus will guide us into the Holy City in New Jerusalem. The city wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as crystal glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stones such as jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, onyx, ruby, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, turquoise, jacinth, and amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls and the great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass. (Rev 21:18-21) What a wonderful and beautiful our future life in the kingdom of heaven!  Imagine you walk in the golden street surrounded by the crystal wall. Compare the life in the kingdom of heaven with the life in the burning hell. Which one do you want to choose? Where do you want to go? The Kingdom of heaven or the hell?

Jesus Christ taught not only about the location of the kingdom of heaven, but also the situation of the kingdom of heaven. In Luke 17:20-21 Jesus said, “…the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” Paul added in Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” These verses teach us that the kingdom of heaven starts in our heart. In other words we can possess and experience the kingdom of heaven in our heart through faith in Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. Where God rules, there is the kingdom of heaven. Where Satan rules, there is the hell. Once someone said to me, “Paul, you don’t have to explain about the hell. The place where I live now is a living hell!” This man had been tortured by demons for long time. But when he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord, he experienced the kingdom of heaven. He was full of joy, peace, and thanks, and he was eager desire to know Christ Jesus.

Where is a treasure in your life? What is the most important and valuable thing to you? Someone says that if you lose money, you lose nothing. If you lose your health, you lose something. If you lose eternal life in the kingdom of heaven, you lose everything.  What is your treasure which you consider as most valuable and important in your life? Money? Degree? Fame? Marriage? Children? They are all important and valuable things for all of us. But, if we lose our life, what good are all these for us? Steve Jobs invented Apple computer and earned billions of billion dollars. But he died at the age 56 and he didn’t take even one penny from all his assets. Tiger Woods is one of the greatest golfer ever. But when he followed his physical pleasure, he lost his respect and popularity as well as his family.  Man was created for eternity. Man is both body and soul. Man’s soul is never satisfied with things of the world no matter how rich and powerful he or she is. This is the reason why Nicodemus came to Jesus at night to solve his life problem. This is the reason why the Samaritan woman changed husbands five times in order to quench her thirsty soul. This is the reason why the tax collector Levi left everything and followed Jesus. He saw the eternal life of the kingdom of heaven in Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 17:3, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Jesus came to give us eternal life and the kingdom of heaven as our inheritance. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:6) Jesus established the kingdom of heaven through his death and resurrection. We were all destined to be condemned and thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur because of our sins. Revelations 21:8 says, “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars- they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Is there anyone who is exempt from these sins? Are you free from God’s divine judgment?  We are all destined to be thrown into the burning sulfur because of our sins. But, God so loved us and that he gave his One and Only Son Jesus that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (Jn 3:16) There is eternal life in Jesus. There is the kingdom of heaven in Jesus. Jesus is the treasure in our life. He has surpassing value which we sell everything to buy him.  He is worthy of our love, devotion, praise, sacrifice, and worship. May the name of Jesus be praised! Amen.

Third, the parable of the net (47-50) Look at verses 47-50. “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angel will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  This Parable of the Net is the same as the Parable of the Weeds. All these teach us about the end of the age and God’s final judgment. As fishermen collect the good fish in the baskets but threw the bad fish away, so the angels of God will separate the wicked from the righteous and throw the wicked into the blazing furnace and bring the righteous into the kingdom of heaven. Are you ready to face God’s final judgment? Is there anyone who can guarantee your life for tomorrow?

  Jesus asked his disciples, “Have you understood all these things?” “Yes” they replied. (51) Do you understand all these parables today?

Jesus concluded his parables. Look at verse 52. “He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” The teacher of the law is an expert of the Old Testaments. In Jesus’ time it was hard for a teacher of the law to become Jesus’ disciple. But when a teacher of the law becomes Jesus’ disciple, he will find new treasure, the way of salvation and the secret of the kingdom of heaven, through faith in Him. He finds that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Scriptures and that he is the Promised Messiah, whom his people had waited and looked for all generations.

I want to ask you today as conclusion of my sermon. Did you find the treasure hidden in today’s passage? If say ‘yes’, what are you going to do with this treasure? Are you ready to sell everything you have and buy it? Are you willing to sacrifice all things for the treasure, the kingdom of heaven, and to invest your life for knowing Christ more and deeper? May God richly bless you when you do so. Let us read verse 44

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Attachment

• A HIDDEN TREASURE-message.doc