I’m preaching at Victory Fort Bonifacio tomorrow at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. We are in week 2 of a 4-week series on parables called “Kingdom Stories.”
TEXT: Matthew 13:44–46
TITLE: “The Treasure”
NOTES:
1- verse 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field . . .” – Sometimes real treasures are hidden, not obvious, difficult to find. May God open our eyes to see real kingdom treasures, rather than the trash the world tries to sell us.
2- verse 44 “in his JOY sold all he had and bought that field . . .” – Some treasures are more valuable than everything else we own, and it is joy, not sorrow, to sell all and purchase the treasure.
3- verse 44 “. . . and bought that field.” – Sometimes we have to buy the whole field in order to get the treasure. I never liked Cracker Jacks, but I loved those cheap plastic treasures in the bottom of the box. We can’t pick and choose, we buy the whole enchilada, or we don’t get the treasure. Salvation comes with a cross.
4- verse 45 “a merchant looking for fine pearls . . .” – Dude in the field seemed to stumble on a treasure, but this guy is LOOKING. Are you stumbling or looking? Probably better to look, even if you are not good-looking (couldn’t resist that “Lutherism”).
5- verse 46 “sold everything he had and bought it” – There it is again. Selling all and buying something of greater value.
THE POINT: Who is really looking? Who is really seeking? Not me. Not you. At least not according to Romans 3:11 which clearly states that “no one seeks God.”
Who sold all and bought a hidden treasure? Who was looking for a valuable pearl to purchase?
Acts 20:28 says Jesus “bought” the church with his own blood
1 Corinthians 6:20 and 7:23 both say essentially the same thing, that “we were bought with a price”
THE END: I don’t think I’m the dude in the field or the merchant seeking pearls. And I don’t think the treasure and the pearl are the kingdom of heaven that we are to sell all and purchase for ourselves.
Rather, I think I’m the treasure and the fine pearl—at least in God’s view. And he sacrificed all so he could purchase me and you from the power and penalty of sin and adopt us as his sons and daughters. There.
More tomorrow at Victory Fort. . .
FYI: Variations of this message in English, Tagalog, and Taglish will be preached at all 73 worship services offered this weekend at 13 Victory locations in Metro Manila. Take your pick, and bring a friend.
