Welcome to Week Four of He Gave Us Stories, our series on the Parables of Jesus. This week we’re still in Matthew chapter 13, looking at two very short parables: The Hidden Treasure and The Pearl of Great Value.
These two parables are very short indeed, just three verses with both put together, so we’re not going to do much dividing of the text this week. Instead we’ll be looking at them together but with a different perspective each day.
Day One – What Do They Have in Common?
Day Two – What is Different Between Them?
Day Three – What Do They Ask of Us?
Day Four – How Do We Put Treasure Where People Can Find It?
Day Five – How Do We Invite People to the Search?
Index to Days 2 through 5
Day 1
What Do They Have in Common?
Observe
Both parables have the same main point: the Kingdom of Heaven is more valuable than anything else we could have.
Matthew 13:44-46
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
44 “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.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Luke 7:40-50
41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Matthew 18:21-35
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
The kingdom of heaven is so incredibly valuable that it’s worth any price. To be clear right up front, these parables are not describing salvation by works. Your entrance into the kingdom of heaven was paid for by the blood of Jesus alone. In one way, these parables connect with the Parable of the Two Debtors (Luke 7:40-50) and the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35). Those two parables have at their core a consideration of how large a debt was forgiven. Today’s two parables look at the other side of the coin. The sacrifice of Jesus paid both our debt of sin and our entrance into the kingdom of heaven. What is being a part of that kingdom worth to us?
- Given that we do not reside bodily in the heavenly kingdom, at least not yet, how has being part of the kingdom of heaven affected your life? What is different about you and how you live?
- What value do you assign to that difference? If someone asks why you would want to be part of the kingdom of heaven in the first place, what’s your answer?
In place of our usual prayer guides, we urge everyone to participate in the 21-day Pray First initiative. You can learn more about it and find the link to the online resources on our website at the link below.
Day 2
What is Different Between Them?
Observe
Two men, each engaged in their daily routine, find something incredibly valuable and recognize its worth.
Matthew 13:44-46
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
44 “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.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Proverbs 2:1-5
The Value of Wisdom
1 My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
Philippians 3:7-8
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
In the first case, a man going about his daily work serendipitously encounters a hidden treasure. He wasn’t looking for it, but he stumbled across it. Joyfully, he recognizes its worth, then sells all he has to buy the field where he found it. In the second case, a merchant is also going about his daily work, except his work is searching for valuable pearls. He finds one more valuable than all the rest, and his action is the same. He sells all he has in order to buy the pearl. While Jesus doesn’t describe the merchant’s emotions, the language used feels like this was a considerable search. Whatever else the merchant felt, we can well imagine how deeply satisfied and peaceful he would feel after finding what he’d sought for so long. There is no wrong way to find this treasure.
- Which do you think is more common, finding this treasure (the kingdom of heaven) by accident, or knowing it’s out there and searching for it? Which more closely fits your story?
- For whichever you said was more common in Question 1, why do you think that’s true? Does the answer change in other locations around the world?
In place of our usual prayer guides, we urge everyone to participate in the 21-day Pray First initiative. You can learn more about it and find the link to the online resources on our website at the link below.
Day 3
What Do They Ask of Us?
Observe
Once discovered, both the man and the merchant sell all they have to possess the treasure.
Matthew 13:44-46
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
44 “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.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Luke 14:25-33
The Cost of Discipleship
25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
Matthew 16:24-26
Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Although not a Bible verse, technically it is a verse. In fact, it’s verse four from my favorite hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” (Emphasis added.)
That word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still,
His Kingdom is forever.
Verse 36 tells us that after Jesus told the Parable of the Weeds, he left the crowd and returned to the house, which means this week’s parables were told by Jesus to his disciples alone. Men to whom Jesus had explained the cost of following him, now he wanted them to understand that what they would gain was worth any cost. Dramatic comparative language is nothing new, either. Jesus told the crowds following him that unless someone “hates his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:25-33) Jesus isn’t asking us to literally hate our families, what he’s saying is that by comparison the level of devotion we show in following him should make even our love of family look like hate. In Matthew 16:24-26 we read that to come after him we are to deny ourselves and “take up our cross.” That is, die to self, in other words—put following him above everything else in our lives.
- What is it that makes you want to follow Jesus?
- Being completely honest, is there anything you could be called on to give up that would cause you to say “no, I can’t give that?”
In place of our usual prayer guides, we urge everyone to participate in the 21-day Pray First initiative. You can learn more about it and find the link to the online resources on our website at the link below.
Day 4
How Do We Put Treasure Where People Can Find It?
Observe
Before it was discovered and then hidden for a second time, someone else hid that treasure in that field.
Matthew 13:44-46
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
44 “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.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
The treasure in the field was hidden where it was for a reason. In a way, this calls back to last week’s Parable of the Sower, where Jesus concluded with “He who has ears, let him hear.” Sometimes we hide a thing where we know it will be found only by the specific person we intend to have it. To “hide” the gospel in that context would mean incorporating it as part of our ordinary relations with someone, but not in an uncomfortably obvious manner. We should “hide” the gospel in places where it will be found.
- What are some ways you could include the gospel in how you interact with others without making it uncomfortably apparent?
- Not a question, more of a challenge: Pray and ask God to show you someone in your world who needs you to “hide” the gospel in your normal dealings with them.
In place of our usual prayer guides, we urge everyone to participate in the 21-day Pray First initiative. You can learn more about it and find the link to the online resources on our website at the link below.
Day 5
How Do We Invite People to the Search?
Observe
The merchant knew what he was looking for, even though he had not found it yet.
Matthew 13:44-46
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
44 “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.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 28:16-20
The Great Commission
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
When Jesus gave the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20), he said “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” Inviting someone to be a disciple can be the starting point, then, and not only the finish line. Consider Jesus’ own disciples; it seems apparent they didn’t understand the prophecy of his resurrection until after they saw him resurrected. If saving faith is believing Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sin and rose from the dead three days later, honestly his disciples were with him for years before coming to that level of understanding. Jesus (who does all things perfectly) called these men to follow him, with no requirement to believe something first. We are indeed saved by grace through faith, and not of ourselves (Ephesians 2:8-9). Sometimes, though, that’s the result of discipleship instead of its beginning.
- What advantages can you see in inviting people to learn about Jesus before asking them to make a decision about faith in him?
- Similar challenge to yesterday: Pray and ask God to show you someone in your world who might be open to an invitation to start learning about Jesus (perfect for an Alpha invite!).
In place of our usual prayer guides, we urge everyone to participate in the 21-day Pray First initiative. You can learn more about it and find the link to the online resources on our website at the link below.