Sermon Central
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The Hidden Treasure Series
Contributed by John Mccaherty on Nov 19, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: this sermon covers two of the parables the hidden treasure and the one great pearl. power points avaialble.
Mysteries of the Kingdom
Part 5
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. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Heaven’s Real Estate
Let’s look at the 1st parable
Field is the world
The man represents God
And the treasure hid in the field is Israel (spiritual Israel, not necessarily the nation)
Some would have us to believe that the
Field is heaven
The man is a sinner
And the treasure is Christ
Cont.
This interpretation falls apart because
Field cannot be heaven, because you can neither earn nor buy heaven.
The man is not a sinner, because as sinners we do not seek after heaven, and we surly don’t have anything to sell to gain Christ.
The treasure is not Christ, as Christ cannot be bought, nor is He hidden
The true interpretation
The true interpretation of this scripture is that Christ bought the field (world) to gain the treasure that was in it.
He bought it with His blood.
1pe 1:18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
As with the tares and wheat – He bought it all, and at the time of harvest he will gain the treasure and discard the rest.
Pearl of Great Price
Mt 13:45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Notice that this parable does not speak of individuals being saved. But of ONE pearl.
As the treasure represented Israel, the pearl represents the Church.
The True Church
The true Church, "one body" formed by the Holy Spirit
1co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Of the true Church a pearl is a perfect symbol:
A pearl is one, a perfect symbol of unity
a pearl is formed by the friction of sand in an oyster, Christ forms the church, by indwelling it, and creating a new creature.
True Church, Great Pearl, Perfect Offering
Christ, having given Himself for the pearl, is now preparing it for Himself as the “Bride of Christ”
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
The Greatest price paid for the greatest pearl
What would you give for something you really want?
Some would way the cost vs. the need
Others are more impulse buyers, maybe with some regrets later
Yet some, know what they want and will go to whatever lengths it takes to get it.
The Cost!
God knew the value of a soul.
He knew the value
He knew the price
He paid what it took- the blood of His son.
