The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
At first glance, both of these little parables seem to be saying the same thing - the kingdom of heaven is worth everything we have. The men in both stories sell everything, right?
But take a closer look! Maybe the Teacher isn’t just repeating Himself.
In the first parable - the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure…
In the second - the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking...
Interesting! In the first parable the kingdom is the valuable find – a treasure! In the second, the kingdom is searching for value – a merchant looking!
There’s a sense in which the kingdom came looking for us. Right? We surely didn’t have the power to bring the kingdom down from heaven. That’s God’s initiative! Jesus brings the kingdom to earth!
Maybe, Jesus is the searching merchant and we the pearl of great price in His eyes. He comes looking for us and gives everything to purchase us.
If so, could we be the one in the first parable who finds what was formerly hidden? Willing to joyfully sell out to possess the treasure of the kingdom of heaven!
Awesome insight. I had never noticed that before.
ReplyDeleteFew of us would argue the great value of the Kingdom.
Few of us would consider ourselves worthy to be called a pearl of great price. Yet that is what we are in God's sight. Valuable enough to send Jesus, his One and Only Son for us.
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God (1 John 3:1)
It is an awesome insight. I forgot who it was that first brought it to my attention. As with everything else on the blog, it represents the wisdom of Jesus and other brothers and sisters over the years, more than my own. In fact, we are born into this world with very little information and wisdom. It has to be prayed for and then collected from outside sources. This is the work of all our lifetimes.
ReplyDelete