Topic: Kingdom of Heaven. Treasure. Category: Kingdom> End Times>
Bible Scripture: Matthew 13:44-50, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Matthew 18:11-14 and Matthew 20:28.
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During His time on earth, Jesus spoke to the multitudes in parables. That is stories of modern life to convey a spiritual truth about God and His Kingdom. Through these stories Jesus reveals things that have been hidden since the beginning of the world.
So let us go back to a time when Jesus reveals the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven to His disciples. Away from the crowds His disciples turn all their attention to Jesus. As Jesus explains that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure.
Matthew 13:44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a place where the most precious things are stored. The most precious, most valuable, most glorious.
the hidden treasure
s the parable goes when a man found this treasure he hid it until he could redeem it, own it and possess it. It is interesting to note that the man did not possess the field where he found the treasure. The man knows the treasure is of the highest value and is willing to give all that he has to redeem it. Through this parable Jesus is showing the worth of the Kingdom of Heaven and all who enter into it. It is a treasure of most precious possessions.
The fullness of God’s Kingdom on earth has been hidden from humanity. This is a result of humanity choosing to become one with the knowledge of good and evil. Through shame their eyes have been blinded to the truth.
In shame humanity ran from God and tried to cover their shame. But the shame remained in humanity’s heart and mind. Yet God in His great love continually pursues humanity in love. With the first man and women God personally covered their shame so that they would feel comfortable in His presence.
The Kingdom of Heaven on earth cost everything to purchase for humanity.
Humanity couldn’t pay the cost to buy back the dominion over the earth, evil and self, as we ourselves became subjected to them. When humanity chose to become one with both good and evil instead of only good, their perception of God, self and each other became marred.
the value of the treasure
But the good news is the kingdom of God has come on earth in Jesus. The truth about God and humanity is revealed in Jesus.
So Jesus, God who became a man, came to the land of the oppressed and downtrodden who were under the rule and reign of a foreign power. One of the most brutal and decadent empires of humanity. He came to the place, to earth, where the kingdom of heaven was hidden to humanity.
Even when God covered humanity’s shame, the fullness of God’s kingdom were still hidden. Jesus is the embodiment of the Kingdom. He came from heaven to earth. Bringing His kingdom down to us.
In Jesus our shame is not just covered but totally removed. It is a daily journey to live in that reality and to discover the endless jewels of the hidden treasures of God’s kingdom.
the highest cost
We cannot earn or deserve entry into God’s Kingdom. It is a free gift from God and activated in our lives and destiny by receiving Jesus sacrifice of Himself.
The value or worth of anything is directly related to the price someone is willing to pay.
God placed the highest value on our salvation and for us to enter His Kingdom for all eternity. God in Jesus became the redeemer of humanity. Paid the ultimate cost for all the offences ever said, thought or done by humanity against self, others and God.
In the beginning out of God’s great love He chose to create. He worked to provide a home where all of His creation could live with Him in perfect harmony. God chose to give the earth to humanity, who chose to give their dominion over the earth to evil and self.
At the time of Jesus telling His disciples about the Kingdom of Heaven, He knew He was the man in the parable. The one who had given up everything to redeem what humanity gave away.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
the treasure of the kingdom
The Kingdom of Heaven, His perfect world is where His will is done. Evil and selfishness has no power, no place and no part in God’s kingdom. His Kingdom is a place of equality and respect. A place where He rules and reigns in love and justice. A justice that raises each one up equally.
Discovering the good news of God’s kingdom and truely understanding its full value brings great joy. When one who was lost receives Jesus and enters into His kingdom there is great joy in heaven. It is the heart of the Father that all will be saved, however not everyone chooses to be saved. Salvation and God’s Kingdom is a choice.
Matthew 18:11-14 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
the joy of Lord
This joy of the Son of Man is His joy for us in Him. When we enter into His Kingdom in receiving Jesus and His right to rule and reign, we enter into His joy. His joy and delight become our joy and delight. Each day as we take a moment to surrender and receive from God, He fills us with His joy. His joy over us is eternal. For He delights in us living in His Kingdom.In the parable of today’s text the man sold all that he had to possess the treasure. That is the enormous value of the Kingdom. Jesus illustrates both the value of the kingdom and the value that God places on our salvation.
Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
we are the jewels
When humanity received the revelation of the truth about God and His kingdom, those who choose to enter into it, receive it and possess it, rejoice. God and His kingdom is not something that has no value. Everyone who enters into His Kingdom He considers of highest value. For He demonstrated this as in He paid the ultimate cost for us.
We are the ones who fill the treasury of the kingdom, as we are the treasure of His treasury. The precious jewels of His creation.
This is the enormous cost that He paid for our salvation. The Son of God became flesh and blood, walked the earth as a man, died a horrible death and rose again, ascended to the right hand of the Father. He now is in a resurrected, gloried body. The cost to God is eternal. We are bought with the shed blood of Jesus.
God placed the highest of value on us. He paid the highest cost.
Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
the pearl of great price
To emphasise the value of the Kingdom of Heaven and all who enter in, Jesus continues with another parable.
Matthew 13:45-46 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold
all that he had and bought it.
The merchant went out into the world seeking beautiful pearls. This is a wonderful picture of the Kingdom Heaven and Jesus. He went out from heaven down to earth. He became a man. Gave up His heavenly riches and brought heaven down to earth. God the Father sent the son to find those that are lost.
Beautiful in this parable means affinity, good, valuable, distinguished, worthy, excellent, precious genuine, beautiful or handsome. All these things God declares over us when we say yes to Jesus. We are His treasured possession.
The heavenly merchant desired us. At the first Pentecost after Jesus’ ascension, the pearl of great price was revealed to the world. The early church was formed. As two or more who are gathered together in Jesus name are the church. Together we testify of who He is and what He has done and will do.
We have been bought by Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
the gathering
To reveal the kingdom of Heaven further, Jesus told another parable.
Matthew 13:47-50 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
This parable that ends this kingdom of Heaven trilogy. The gathering is talking about the present age and what is to come. Currently the gospel is being cast out across the world. Every kind is gathered.
Those who receive Him and those who reject Him. So when all who will come to Him throughout the ages have come, Jesus will return.
Angels will be sent forth into the four corners of the earth to reap the earth. Those who have received Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself have been declared beautiful, good and just. Jesus has set them apart and they enter into their place in His Kingdom.
Those who have rejected Jesus, having rejected the only pathway to salvation are cast into the furnace of fire. The eternal destiny and place of their choosing. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. That day will be the day of judgement which results in the separation and eradication of evil.
It will also be the time of the fullness of salvation and the just entering into eternal life. The community of the disciples of Jesus all over the world are the good or just.
the amazing grace of God
Now is the time of grace or underserved favour. The pearl of great price is revealed and the gospel continues to be cast out over the world. Everyone benefits from the grace of God and His Kingdom actioned in this world. Both the just who have received Jesus and the unjust.
As we learnt from the previous parable we are bought with a great price. Declared by God to be of the highest value. So in celebration let us read the trilogy together as one.
a treasure, a pearl, a gathering
Matthew 13:44-50 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
The Kingdom of Heaven is available for all who are willing. Receive the king and receive His Kingdom. Those who receive Jesus are the treasure of His Kingdom. For His Kingdom has come in Jesus!
SERMON CATEGORIES
unsearchable mysteries> son of man> love of God> hope and healing> know God> truth> power> end times> experience God> life> success in life> kingdom> miracles of the wilderness journey>
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