We’re finishing up our brief look at the Kingdom Parables of Matthew 13. There are seven in all, six of which start: “The Kingdom of God is like…”
- Keep sowing seed because not everyone responds and bears fruit
- The Kingdom co-exists with its opposition
- Parable of the weeds
- Parable of the bad fish (if we’re going to call the parable of the wheat and tares the parable of the weeds, let’s call the parable of the fishing net the parable of the bad fish!)
- The Kingdom grows and benefits others
- Parable of the mustard seed
- Parable of the leaven
- The Kingdom has great value (today’s topic)
- Parable of the Hidden Treasure
- Parable of the Pearl
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. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13.44 – 46, ESV)
Easy to understand; tough to apply. The Kingdom has great value, and what it costs is all we have:
So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14.33, ESV)
The rich young ruler couldn’t do it:
The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Matthew 19.20 – 22, ESV)
If you’re waiting for me to show you the loophole, why this doesn’t mean what it appears to mean, I haven’t found it yet either. Except I do notice that the young man who kept all of his possessions went away sorrowful, but the fellow who sold all that he had to buy the field did it with joy.
Both men in these parables also acted with intention to alter their status quo. They were intentional and they paid attention. We could start there, couldn’t we? Tomorrow, I want to look at one place specific place to start. Hint: “Beware the leaven of…”
But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. (Hebrews 10.32 – 36, ESV)
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. (Philippians 3.8, ESV)
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. – Jim Elliott