The Hidden Treasure

The Hidden Treasure

Text: Matthew 13:44 July 8, 2009 Presented by Jimmy Bradshaw

Matthew 13:44 ESV "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Jesus tells numerous parables conveying the characteristics of the Kingdom of Heaven.

1. He tells some to the crowd from a boat, Matt. 13:1-3 2. He tells others just to His disciples (Apostles), Matt. 13:36, why????

Finding a Hidden Treasure

All of us would consider finding a treasure to be good news!!!

There is Good News about the Kingdom Daniel 2:44 ESV And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,

Good News about the Kingdom Can you prove that the Kingdom in Dan. 2:44 is the Church? Dan. 2:44 places the establishment of the eternal kingdom at the time of the 4th kingdom (the Roman Empire)

Good News about the Kingdom Mat 3:2 ESV "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand [RAI]." Mat 4:17 ESV From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand [RAI].“

Luke 4:43 ESV but he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”

Good News about the Kingdom Mark 1:14-15 ESV Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, (15) and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.“

Galatians 4:4 ESV But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, Luke 16:16 ESV "The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.

Good News about the Kingdom Matthew 11:9-12 ESV What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. (10) This is he of whom it is written, "'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.' (11) Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (12) From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

Good News about the Kingdom Matthew 16:16-19 NASB Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (17) And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (18) "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. (19) "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.“

Good News about the Kingdom Mat 24:14 ESV And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Colossians 1:23 ESV if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. Who was given the responsibility to reveal the mystery of the Gospel? Matthew 13:11, Eph. 3:3-11, Rom. 16:25,

Good News about the Kingdom Mar 9:1 ESV And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come [2RAP] with power.“

Act 1:8 ESV But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Good News about the Kingdom Acts 2:1-4 ESV When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. (2) And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. (3) And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Good News about the Kingdom Act 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. [ 1 Cor. 12:13, Col. 1:18, Eph. 1:23, 24] Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, [1 Cor. 15:25, 1 Peter 2:9, Rev. 1:5-7, 5:9-10]

Gospel contains Heavenly Treasures Mat 6:20 ESV but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Gospel contains Heavenly Treasures 1 Peter 1:18-25 ESV knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, (19) but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (20) He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you (21) who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (22) Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (23) since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; (24) for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, (25) but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Two Ways to find Treasure 1. To Diligently seek for treasure. a. Rare occurrence. b. The Wise Men, Centurion (Mat. 8), Paralytic (Mark 2) 2. To Accidentally stumble upon.

a. Nathaniel, John 1:49 b. Samaritan woman at well, John 4:29-40 c. Paul, Acts 9

Filled with Joy 1. What is Joy? a. It is different from happiness. b. It is the emotion caused by the expectation of good things. 2. We are filled with joy when we find earthly treasure.

3. Chapter on Lost things, Luke 15 a. Lost Coin b. Lost Sheep c. Lost Son

Kingdom on Earth and in Heaven Mat 6:10 ESV Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. There is a Church Militant and a Church Triumphant!

Matt. 13:44 and the Christian Life 1. The Treasure is the Gospel. 2. Finding the Treasure gives joy just as obeying the Gospel gives hope of eternal life. 3. No rejoicing until after baptism (Acts 2:41, 8:39, 16:33, 34)

4. We must give our all to God just as is took all to buy the land.

It takes all of Ourselves Mark 10:27-31 ESV Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." (28) Peter began to say to him, "See, we have left everything and followed you." (29) Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, (30) who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. (31) But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

It takes all of Ourselves Rom 12:1 ESV I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Rev. 2:10 ESV …Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Partial Payment Not Accepted Mat 6:24 ESV "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Mat 6:19-21 ESV "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, (20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Partial Payment Not Accepted Rom 6:16 ESV Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?