In the first century, finding someone else’s buried treasure was not as uncommon as it might be today: The only safe place to hide something was in the ground. Jewish law expressly stated that the “finder” was to be the “keeper,” and thus this parable suggests nothing unethical in the man’s practice. In the little parable in Matthew 13:44, the man who discovered the hidden treasure recognized that what he had found was worth everything else he had!
Even though Jesus doesn’t say exactly “what” the hidden treasure was (in the parable), the point is that it was something of extraordinary value and supreme quality. Eternal life in HEAVEN is surely the most wonderful of all treasures; many people ignore it, however, and very few ever value it accurately. In many lives, the only time people want to think about the “worth” of eternal life is in a moment of extreme need.
In the parable, what the man saw was something worth sacrificing everything else he possessed so that he could purchase it. He sold every possession to buy the field so he could obtain a legal claim to the treasure. He paid the price – without quibble – to possess it! He understood that he couldn’t have the “prize” without first paying the “price!” We can’t get something for nothing, even from God. The first thing Jesus requires of His disciples is that we take up our crosses, and follow Him, Matthew 16:24.
Take note of the man’s JOY: He didn’t regret selling everything else, and he offered no complaints about such a “deal.” What this man saw very plainly was that he got much more in return for his “sacrifice.” The apostle Paul counted all he had owned as loss (Philippians 3:7-8) for what he got in return.
Similarly, the “pearl of great price” (Matthew 13:45) emphasizes the surpassing value what God offers us, when compared to anything else we could possess in the current life.
Pearls have always been highly valued, and this parable makes the same point as the previous one; the man gave all he had to obtain the extraordinary pearl. The merchant of this parable had a distinct purpose in his life, searching diligently for a something that represented a full life. There was purpose and direction in his search, and he did not wander aimlessly in seeking his goal.
The merchant set a very specific purpose in his life; he was seeking a priceless pearl, not a second rate one. Matthew 6:33 says God’s kingdom should be the number one priority of our lives, to which even daily necessities should come second. This man was willing to pay a high price to obtain his goal, and he recognized genuine value when he saw it. Paul describes this as “approving what is excellent” (Philippians 1:9). This man didn’t just admire the pearl, and wish he could have it, he went and sold all he had to get it. He didn’t grieve the loss of “second-class” things; instead, he willingly sacrificed them to achieve his goal!
In all of the “kingdom” parables, Jesus emphasizes that what God offers us in eternity has far greater value than anything (or even “everything!”) we can possess in this life. These parables emphasize the importance of our priorities, and challenge us to set them wisely!
-Dave Rogers
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