Series: Parables
Title: The Treasure and the Pearl
Text: Matthew 13: 44-46
Date: November 7, 2010
Place: SGBC, NJ
Matthew 13:44: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
As we have done in each of these parables, we will first see how this applies to our Lord Jesus Christ then how it applies to the believer.
I. GOD'S ELECT CHILDREN ARE THE TREASURE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Malachi 3:17: And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Deuteronomy 32:9: For the LORD’S portion [is] his people; Jacob [is] the lot of his inheritance.
Psalm 135:4: For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, [and] Israel for his peculiar treasure.
A. The field is the world in which his treasure--his children--are hidden (v38). Throughout the Scriptures God’s elect are spoken of as a people scattered among, chosen from, redeemed out of, and called from the nations of the world.
Matthew 13: 44: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
B. Christ Jesus is the Man, God in Human Flesh Who Came.
C. He Came For Joy
Hebrews 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.
D. For His Treasure Christ Sold All That He Hath
2 Corinthians 8:9: For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
It cost HIM all that he had: he came to this sin-cursed earth from heavens glory, despised and rejected of men, made sin for his people, the wrath of God was poured out upon him, he poured out his blood as the price and purchased his people out of this earth.
E. He Bought the Field--the World--in Which His People--His Treasure--Were Hidden (v24--his field).
Note: He did not make satisfaction for the field (earth, the world), he made satisfaction for his elect within it. But the deed to the world--the field--is his, to go and take out of it his children, his treasure.
Psalm 2:8: Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession.
John 17:2: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
E. And our Lord shall gather out his chosen, redeemed, treasure and not one shall be lost.
Illustration: In days before banks men often hid their treasure in the earth. The man that hid it, knew exactly where his treasure was. So it is that Christ's children are hidden in the earth. But he knows exactly where they are.
Isaiah 43: 4: Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. 5 Fear not: for I [am] with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; 6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; 7 [Even] every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
II. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE TREASURE OF THE BELIEVER--the ONE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE.
A. When Christ begins revealing himself in us it is like finding treasure in a field.
We find the true Treasure is a Person--God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ
Colossians 2: 3: In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
The gospel and the scriptures become a field full of the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Luke 24:32: And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Perhaps the next parable describes the singleness of heart God gives in the believer.
Matthew 13: 45: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
B. Believer, weren't we like the "merchant man"?
Buy and selling--trying to strike a bargain. We thought we had some "goodly pearls."
- The treasures of this world
- A religious profession
- A church denomination
- Moral change
C. But by God's grace--he brought us to find THE ONE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE--Christ Jesus.
Matthew 13: 46: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price,…
Christ is the ONE PEARL of Great Price.
Question: Ask a believer, "How valuable is Christ to you?"
Ephesians 1: 3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
· I have always been holy and without Blame Before God in Christ
· I am a child adopted to God himself by Jesus Christ
· This sinful wretch is accepted by the holy God in Christ the Beloved Pearl of Great Price
Ephesians 1: 7: In whom we have redemption through his blood,
· We have "the forgiveness of sins,"
· according to the riches of his grace;
Ephesians 1: 11: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance,
· Our inheritance can never be taken away because it is according to the purpose of him that works all things after the council of his own will.
· Complete in Christ Jesus the One Pearl of Great Price. CHRIST IS MY ONE PEARL OF 'GREAT PRICE'!
Lamentations 3:24: The LORD [is] my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
D. Nothing will empty a sinner's hands of fool's gold--turn us in repenantance and faith--but Christ Jesus--the One Pearl of Great Price.
Matthew 13: 46: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Matthew 6: 21:…where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
· Rich young ruler--"One thing thou lackest…"
· Illustration: Gerald Stalnaker and the chocolate bar.
· Levi--tax-collector--with one command "Follow me!" Levi's eyes were opened and he found the Pearl of Great Price.--"He left all, rose up and followed Christ."
Application: Where is your treasure? Are you still seeking goodly pearls are have you found the ONE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE?
Matthew 16: 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works….Mark 8: 38: Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Are you like Mary?
Luke 10: 41: And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Are you like the apostle Paul?
Philippians 3: 7: But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, 9: And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
If not, I pray God will not let you find a minutes rest till you forsake all for this one pearl of great price! But if you have found him!
Colossians 3: 1: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory…{put off the old man with his deeds and}…12: Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye. 14 And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
AMEN!