MATTHEW
13:44
Pastor Rick
Jackson
This parable
consists of one verse and yet there’s a powerful lesson given therein. The
problem is that quite a few people over the years have misinterpreted this
parable and thus changed the whole meaning. Let us once more use our Bibles and
the brains the good Lord gave us and rightly divide the Word of Truth!
I. THE
POPULAR EXPLANATION
1. The
treasure in the field is Jesus
2. The man
is the sinner
3. The man
gives everything to find Christ
Now at first
hearing that may sound pretty good. But the fact is it’s about as far off as it
can be. The Devil doesn’t want men to understand the Gospel [2 Cor. 4:3-5].
But if our
gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world
hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the
glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For
we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants
for Jesus sake.
So what’s wrong with this view? Let’s look at:
II. THE
PROBLEMS EXPOSED
1. Jesus is
NOT Hidden! [Jn. 8:12, Mt. 5:14-16, Jn. 1:4-9]
- Then spake
Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth
me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
- Ye are the
light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men
light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth
light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
- In him was
life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and
the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was
John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men
through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness
of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh
into the world.
2. Men are
to Herald, not Hide, the Saviour [Acts 5:42, 1 Cor. 1:23]
-And daily
in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus
Christ.
- But we
preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks
foolishness;
3. Men do
NOT Purchase Salvation [Isaiah 55:1]
Ho, every
one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye,
buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
III. THE
PARABLE EXPLAINED
1. The Field
is the World [Mt. 13:38]
2. The Man
is the Saviour [Mt. 13:24, 37]
3. The
Redeemed are the Treasure [Acts 20:28, 1 Cor. 6:20, 7:23]
- Take heed
therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost
hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased
with his own blood.
- For ye are
bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit,
which are God's.
- Ye are
bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
-Note the
joy involved [Mt. 13:44, Heb. 12:2]
Looking unto
Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before
him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand
of the throne of God.
-Note the
price paid was all that He had [1 Pet. 1:18-19]
- Forasmuch
as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and
gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot:
