KINGDOM PARABLES: THE HIDDEN TREASURE
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Kingdom Parables
a) The seven short parables teach us about the very great value of the kingdom of God. They also teach us of the universal nature of the kingdom.
b) There is something else that many people fail to appreciate, and that's the enormous value of the kingdom of God. People in every nation may possess these true riches if they enter into God’s kingdom.
c) The parables that Jesus told, reflect the great value of belonging to the world-wide kingdom of God. Nothing is worth having, that would rob us of that place. This lesson is about seven such parables.
d) We look at one of the parables that addresses the great value of the kingdom of God.
2. The Hidden Treasure
Matthew 13:44
“ 44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, and he concealed it. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
a) There is a puzzle in this parable. Jesus simply says that "a man found" this treasure. He does not say whether the man found it by happenstance, or whether he was seeking the treasure knowing that it was buried in the field.
b) We have some reason to think that people won't find the kingdom of God if they are not seekers. People need to be like Joseph of Arimathea who was "looking for the kingdom of God (Mark 15:43).
c) The treasure in this parable was hidden. Furthermore, when the man found it he hid it again. This does not mean that the kingdom of God is concealed, for indeed it is revealed (Romans 16:25-27).
d) The hiding of the treasure means that when you find the kingdom of God, you must secure it for yourself so that you keep it safe from the thieves and robbers among the devil and his ilk.
e) The extreme value of the treasure was recognized as greater than all the man's possessions, because he sold them all to buy the field in which the treasure was hid. The kingdom of God has treasure more valuable by far than anything we possess. We should gladly sacrifice everything we possess, if need be, that we might possess the kingdom of heaven.
f) The man was overwhelmed with joy when he found the treasure. God brings us into his kingdom for this purpose, that we might share in his joy, and that for ever. This world has no lasting joy, but heaven has. That's why we should seek and secure our place in heaven, and not love the things of this world (1 John 2:15-17).
The End ...
1. Kingdom Parablesa) The seven short parables teach us about the very great value of the kingdom of God. They also teach us of the universal nature of the kingdom.
b) There is something else that many people fail to appreciate, and that's the enormous value of the kingdom of God. People in every nation may possess these true riches if they enter into God’s kingdom.
c) The parables that Jesus told, reflect the great value of belonging to the world-wide kingdom of God. Nothing is worth having, that would rob us of that place. This lesson is about seven such parables.
d) We look at one of the parables that addresses the great value of the kingdom of God.
2. The Hidden Treasure
Matthew 13:44
“ 44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, and he concealed it. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
a) There is a puzzle in this parable. Jesus simply says that "a man found" this treasure. He does not say whether the man found it by happenstance, or whether he was seeking the treasure knowing that it was buried in the field.
b) We have some reason to think that people won't find the kingdom of God if they are not seekers. People need to be like Joseph of Arimathea who was "looking for the kingdom of God (Mark 15:43).
c) The treasure in this parable was hidden. Furthermore, when the man found it he hid it again. This does not mean that the kingdom of God is concealed, for indeed it is revealed (Romans 16:25-27).
d) The hiding of the treasure means that when you find the kingdom of God, you must secure it for yourself so that you keep it safe from the thieves and robbers among the devil and his ilk.
e) The extreme value of the treasure was recognized as greater than all the man's possessions, because he sold them all to buy the field in which the treasure was hid. The kingdom of God has treasure more valuable by far than anything we possess. We should gladly sacrifice everything we possess, if need be, that we might possess the kingdom of heaven.
f) The man was overwhelmed with joy when he found the treasure. God brings us into his kingdom for this purpose, that we might share in his joy, and that for ever. This world has no lasting joy, but heaven has. That's why we should seek and secure our place in heaven, and not love the things of this world (1 John 2:15-17).
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