Matthew 13:44 - The Parable of the Treasure Hidden in a Field.
Mat 13:44: The Parable of the Treasure Hidden in a Field.
Mat 13:44 (NIV) 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.
DEVOTIONAL PEARL
This parable illustrates the value of the heavenly treasure, and
the effort that should be made to secure it. The finder of the
treasure in the field was ready to part with all that he had, ready to
put forth untiring labor, in order to secure the hidden riches. So
the finder of heavenly treasure will count no labor too great and no
sacrifice too dear, in order to gain the treasures of truth.
In the parable the field containing the treasure represents the
Holy Scriptures. And the gospel is the treasure.....
The treasures of the gospel are said to be hidden. By those who
are wise in their own estimation, who are puffed up by the teaching
of vain philosophy, the beauty and power and mystery of the plan of
redemption are not perceived. Many have eyes, but they see not; they have
ears, but they hear not; they have intellect, but they discern not the
hidden treasure.....
God does not conceal His truth from men. By their own course of
action they make it obscure to themselves.....
Christ is the truth. His words are truth, and they have a deeper
significance than appears on the surface. All the sayings of Christ have a
value beyond their unpretending appearance. Minds that are quickened
by the Holy Spirit will discern the value of these sayings. They
will discern the precious gems of truth, though these may be buried
treasures......
Those who desire to find the treasures of truth must dig for
them as the miner digs for the treasure hidden in the earth. No
halfhearted, indifferent work will avail. It is essential for old and young,
not only to read God's word, but to study it with wholehearted
earnestness, praying and searching for truth as for hidden treasure. Those
who do this will be rewarded, for Christ will quicken the
understanding. COL103-114
THE FOLLOWING IS FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE DEEPER STUDY:
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Mat 13:44 (KJV) 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.
Mat 13:44 (NIV) 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.
Mat 13:44 (CWR) The kingdom of God can also be compared to
treasure buried in a field. When a man finds it, he covers it up, goes
home and joyfully sells everything he has to buy that field.
A parable is a story that makes one central point, and relates
every element in the story to this point. The parables in this chapter
concern Jesus' kingdom, but are not obvious. [The 365-Day Devotional
Commentary]
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Overview
Jesus' claim to be LORD of the Sabbath (12:1-14) and the Servant
predicted by Isaiah (vv. 15-21) brought direct conflict with the Pharisees
(vv. 22-37). Christ rejected their demand for a miraculous sign (vv.
36-45), but announced kinship with those who do God's will (vv. 46-50).
In a series of parables told to puzzled crowds (13:1-35), and in
another series told to His disciples (vv. 36-52), Jesus explained the
unexpected aspects of His kingdom. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
Chapter Topics
3 The parable of the sower and the seed 18 the exposition of it.
24 The parable of the tares, 31 of the mustard seed, 33 of the
leaven, 44 of the hidden treasure, 45 of the pearl, 47 of the drawnet
cast into the sea: 53 and how Christ is contemned of his own
countrymen. [SDA Commentary]
13:3-52 The parables of this chapter are significant
structurally and theologically. Structurally there is a balance between those
delivered "by the sea" (of which there are four) and those delivered in
the house (also being four in number). Theologically they explain
the development of the kingdom between Christ's first and second
coming, His rejection and future reception. [Believer's SB]
Chapter Summary
As resistance hardens, Jesus begins to speak in parables. The
parables summarize contrasts between the form of God's kingdom the Jews
expect and the form of the kingdom Jesus is about to institute. [Victor
Bible Reader's Companion]
13:1-52 The Third Major Discourse: The Parables concerning the
Spread of the Good News and the Results. The parables are presented to
the crowds, but their meaning is explained only to the inner circle
of the disciples (13:10-17, 34-36). [Cambridge Annotated SB]
Jesus said that He spoke in parables so that those who believed
might understand-- and those who did not believe would not understand
(vv. 11-15). What an illustration of God's grace. [The 365-Day
Devotional Commentary]
Section Headings
Three Parables
Stories About a Treasure, a Merchant, and a Net
Parables of the treasure and of the pearl
Stories of a Treasure and a Pearl
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
Jesus tells the parable of hidden treasure
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
Proverbs 2:2-5 (KJV) So that thou incline thine ear unto
wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; [3] Yea, if thou criest
after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; [4] If
thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid
treasures; [5] Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find
the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 23:23 (KJV) Buy the truth, and sell it not; also
wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
Isaiah 55:1 (KJV) 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.
Matthew 6:21 (KJV) For where your treasure is, there will your
heart be also.
Matthew 19:21 (KJV) Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be
perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt
have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Matthew 19:29 (KJV) And every one that hath forsaken houses, or
brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or
lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall
inherit everlasting life.
Luke 14:33 (KJV) So likewise, whosoever he be of you that
forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 18:23-24 (KJV) And when he heard this, he was very
sorrowful: for he was very rich. [24] And when Jesus saw that he was very
sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the
kingdom of God!
John 6:35 (KJV) And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of
life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth
on me shall never thirst.
1 Cor. 2:9-10 (KJV) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen,
nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the
things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [10] But God
hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth
all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Philip. 3:8 (KJV) 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, [
Col. 2:3 (KJV) In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge.
Col. 3:16 (KJV) 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.
Hebrews 11:24-26 (KJV) By faith Moses, when he was come to
years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; [25]
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to
enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; [26] Esteeming the reproach
of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had
respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Rev. 3:18 (KJV) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the
fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be
clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint
thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart.
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?
How can it improve my relationship with Jesus.
The parables of vv. 44-52 concern kingdom values and
responsibilities. They are especially directed at believers. The first two are
recorded by Matthew alone and appear to belong together.... In the first
story a man stumbles on a treasure trove, which he makes every effort
to obtain. The central truth being taught is the immense value of
the kingdom, which far outweighs any sacrifice or inconvenience one
might encounter on earth. [Nelson SB]
The parables of the treasure and pearl indicate the incomparable
value of the kingdom, which will cause a man to do everything possible
to possess it. [Ryrie SB]
The kingdom is of such great value that one should be willing to
give up all he has in order to gain it. [NIV SB]
The kingdom of heaven is more valuable than anything else we can
have, and a person must be willing to give up everything to obtain it.
[Life application SB]
This parable, recorded by Matthew only, illustrates the value of
salvation as represented by the gospel message, together with the effort
that must be put forth on the part of the individual to secure it. In
this case the "field" represents the Scriptures. [SDA Commentary]
Many slight the gospel, because they look only upon the surface
of the field. But all who search the Scriptures, so as in them to
find Christ and eternal life, John 5:39, will discover such treasure
in this field as makes it unspeakably valuable; they make it their
own upon any terms. Though nothing can be given as a price for this
salvation, yet much must be given up for the sake of it. [Matthew Henry
Commentary]
This parable illustrates the value of the heavenly treasure, and
the effort that should be made to secure it. The finder of the
treasure in the field was ready to part with all that he had, ready to
put forth untiring labor, in order to secure the hidden riches. So
the finder of heavenly treasure will count no labor too great and no
sacrifice too dear, in order to gain the treasures of truth. In the
parable the field containing the treasure represents the Holy
Scriptures. And the gospel is the treasure.
The treasures of the gospel are said to be hidden. By those who
are wise in their own estimation, who are puffed up by the teaching
of vain philosophy, the beauty and power and mystery of the plan of
redemption are not perceived. Many have eyes, but they see not; they have
ears, but they hear not; they have intellect, but they discern not the
hidden treasure....
God does not conceal His truth from men. By their own course of
action they make it obscure to themselves....
And today men are eagerly seeking for earthly treasure. Their
minds are filled with selfish, ambitious thoughts. For the sake of
gaining worldly riches, honor, or power, they place the maxims,
traditions, and requirements of men above the requirements of God. From them
the treasures of His word are hidden....
There are wonderful truths in nature. The earth, the sea, and
the sky are full of truth. They are our teachers. Nature utters her
voice in lessons of heavenly wisdom and eternal truth. But fallen man
will not understand. Sin has obscured his vision, and he cannot of
himself interpret nature.... Correct lessons cannot impress the minds of
those who reject the word of God....
By acquiring earthly knowledge he thought to gain a treasure,
but by laying his Bible aside he sacrificed a treasure worth
everything else....
Christ is the truth. His words are truth, and they have a deeper
significance than appears on the surface. All the sayings of Christ have a
value beyond their unpretending appearance. Minds that are quickened
by the Holy Spirit will discern the value of these sayings. They
will discern the precious gems of truth, though these may be buried
treasures....
Those who desire to find the treasures of truth must dig for
them as the miner digs for the treasure hidden in the earth. No
halfhearted, indifferent work will avail. It is essential for old and young,
not only to read God's word, but to study it with wholehearted
earnestness, praying and searching for truth as for hidden treasure. Those
who do this will be rewarded, for Christ will quicken the
understanding....
Explore God's word as the miner explores the earth to find veins
of gold. Never give up the search until you have ascertained your
relation to God and His will in regard to you....
He who would seek successfully for the hidden treasure must rise
to higher pursuits than the things of this world....
Disobedience has closed the door to a vast amount of knowledge
that might have been gained from the Scriptures.... They can be
understood only by those who are humbly seeking for a knowledge of the
truth that they may obey it....
If you search the Scriptures to vindicate your own opinions, you
will never reach the truth. Search in order to learn what the Lord
says.... Open mind and heart that you may behold wondrous things out of
God's word....
"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
John 3:3. He may conjecture and imagine, but without the eye of faith
he cannot see the treasure....
We need the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit in order to discern
the truths in God's word. The lovely things of the natural world are
not seen until the sun, dispelling the darkness, floods them with
its light. So the treasures in the word of God are not appreciated
until they are revealed by the bright beams of the Sun of
Righteousness....
There is infinity beyond all that we can comprehend. We have
seen only the glimmering of divine glory and of the infinitude of
knowledge and wisdom; we have, as it were, been working on the surface of
the mine, when rich golden ore is beneath the surface, to reward the
one who will dig for it. The shaft must be sunk deeper and yet
deeper in the mine, and the result will be glorious treasure.....
In His prayer to the Father, Christ gave to the world a lesson
which should be graven on mind and soul. "This is life eternal," He
said, "that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ,
whom Thou hast sent." John 17:3. This is true education. It imparts
power. The experimental knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He
has sent, transforms man into the image of God. It gives to man the
mastery of himself, bringing every impulse and passion of the lower
nature under the control of the higher powers of the mind. It makes its
possessor a son of God and an heir of heaven. It brings him into communion
with the mind of the Infinite, and opens to him the rich treasures of
the universe.
This is the knowledge which is obtained by searching the word of
God. And this treasure may be found by every soul who will give all
to obtain it. COL103-114
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