Central Thought: The Kingdom of God is of inestimable value that must transcend every other earthly possession.
Hymn: There’s a land that is fairer than day
Text: Matthew 13:44-46, 19:16-26
Introduction:
In Matthew chapter 13, the Lord Jesus began to utter mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven in public and private places. One of the eight parables in the chapter, is the parable of the hidden treasure. All men have different things they treasure at different times. A number of factors determine what men treasure, which may include their wealth, positions, race, etc. The main emphasis of the parable of the hidden treasure is that nothing is more precious than the kingdom of God. The parable emphasizes the whole-hearted response a person should give towards the Kingdom of Heaven, and the need for total devotion and commitment to the Kingdom. This study will examine the kingdom of heaven as a hidden treasure.
Lesson Objectives:
We trust God that at the end of this study we shall be able to:
- Understand the meaning of the word “treasure”.
- Know how a man can find the kingdom of heaven.
Question 1.) What is the meaning of the word “treasure”.
The word treasure means anything greatly valued. It stands for a collection of valuable things that is held dear by an individual. It may be accumulated wealth, stock of money, jewels, etc. The underlying fact in whichever form a treasure appears is that, it is what an individual considers as precious. Treasures are usually stored in a safe place. The treasure we are concerned with in this study is the hidden treasure. The Lord Jesus used the adjective hidden to qualify the treasure in question. It is not a treasure one finds on the surface or something easily found. It is hidden and so there must be some deliberate effort from the one in search of it, to find it. This treasure in discuss is the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of Heaven is a treasure worth more than anything else. Therefore, we are called to desire the Kingdom above all else. It represents the supremacy of the Lord Jesus in the life of a believer.
Question 2.) Why did the merchant man sell all that he had to buy the hidden treasure?
Matthew 13:44-46
“Again the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hid in a field, the which when a man hath found, he hiddeth and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant man, seeking godly pearls, who when he had found a great price, went out and sold all that he had and bought it”. In contrast to the man who accidentally discovered the hidden treasure, the second man is a knowledgeable merchant who is constantly prospecting for goodly pearls and finds one. Both men recognize the worth of the treasure but the merchant traffics in commodities for maximum profit. Because profit making is critical to his goal the merchant weighs the worth of the treasure, for which he is willing to give up all he had to gain it. In other words, the treasure was worth more than everything the merchant owned. This parable teaches us the inestimable value of the Kingdom of God and no cost should be spared to acquire it. All earthly treasures are temporal and will soon fade away. Therefore as the Lord Jesus Christ advised we are not to lay up treasures on earth were moth and rust destroy, where thieves break in and steal, but that we should lay up treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is, there the heart will be. Matthew 6:19-21. In plain words salvation in Jesus is the pearl of great price that every wise man should seek after. Give yourself no rest until you have it.
Question 3.) Why is the kingdom of heaven likened to “Treasure hid in a field?
2 Corinthians 4:3-7
Throughout Jesus’ teachings, He used objects his audience could easily identify with. He did this in many parables, so as to press home the message He intended for His audience. This was essentially for clarity and understanding, though often His audience did not grasp the message. The field was a known entity to Jesus’ audience. The Jews being basically shepherds were conversant with the field used by Jesus to depict the kingdom. The word hid was used to qualify the kingdom because it is only found by those who consciously search for it. It requires diligence, time, pains, and sacrifices, to search out hidden treasures. As we see in some reality shows there are rules that the contestants must strictly adhere to. Sometimes the individuals in the contest have to go on endurance trek for a long distance, suffer hunger, some even lose their lives in the process and when it is eventually found, the winner is happy and gets a reward. All that sacrifice is for physical things with no eternal value. The fact that the treasure is hidden shows that spiritual truth is apparent to everyone and cannot be found by human intelligence or by worldly wisdom. The Kingdom of God is only for serious minded people; those who will put aside all distractions and focus on attaining the goal. Such individuals are focused, in spite of various challenges that may come their way. To gain the kingdom, such individuals are ready to give up everything to attain their goal. The Kingdom is hidden from the natural man. Only persons who have made commitment to serve the Lord, even against all odds, can find it. To some people seriously engaging in the things of God is considered foolish (1 Corinthians 2:14), but the believer must see it differently. There is great value in the quest for eternal dividends hence we must be ready to trade the temporary things of this world for the Kingdom of God.
Question 4.) How can man find the kingdom of heaven today?
John 3:3-8, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 10:9-10
Just like in reality searches, rules and regulation are clearly stated to guide contestants on how to find the hidden treasure. So it is with the Kingdom of God. There are laid down, scriptural principles to guide thosw who seek after God’s kingdom. All who seek God’s Kingdom must search for it in Christ Jesus. He is God’s door and entrance into God’s Kingdom (John 14:6).
To find God’s Kingdom one must first of all be born-again (John 3:3-8). This entails renouncing all other gods and lifestyles and giving one’s life to God. It involves inviting Jesus into one’s heart and letting Him be Lord and personal savior. It is a deliberate, conscious and voluntary act. This is the starting point to finding the kingdom. It is beyond going to church or giving money to the work of God. It is the deliberate act of saying the sinners prayer of repentance and asking God for mercy, and become saved through Jesus Christ. There-after the mind is continually renewed after God by His word and a determination not to return to the former life styles. By so doing such an individual becomes a new man in Christ, having been cleansed by the blood of Jesus. There is also the conscious effort to learn the kingdom life style as contained in the word of God. This is an act of faith.
Daily Living Application
The Kingdom of God is the hidden treasure and the costly pearl. Nothing should be spared to ensure its acquisition like the wise merchant who sold everything that he had to buy it. It starts with accepting Christ into our lives and then having a lifelong relationship with Him. Like the heroes of faith (Hebrew 11), we must run this race to the end like Apostle Paul, to be able with Godly confidence say, I have finished my race; I am ready to receive the crown reserved for me. The race is certainly not easy but we can count on the Lord’s strength to overcome. Our love for Jesus, who sacrificed His life to redeem us should be a propelling force in our heaven-ward journey. The prospect of eternal life with God should more than excite us and give us a focus in our quest for heaven.
Memory Verse:
John 14:6
Jesus said unto him, “I am the way the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”
Daily Devotional Guide
Monday: Why the merchant man sold all that he had to buy the hidden treasure
Matthew 13:44-46
Tuesday: The Kingdom of Heaven likened to a treasure hid in a field.
2 Corinthians 4:3-7
Wednesday: Jesus Christ is the door/entrance to God’s kingdom.
John 14:6
Thursday: You must be Born Again.
John 3:3-8, 16
Friday: Be a new creature through Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Saturday: Meditate on
Romans 10:9-10