Rev. David Holwick R
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
May 10, 1992
Matthew 13:44-46
|
I. The lure of treasure.
A. In 1922 archaeologist Howard Carter was completing nearly fifteen
years of digging in the famous Valley of the Kings in Egypt.
He was hoping to find the royal tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen.
Having found nothing, his days of digging were coming to an end.
Money was running out.
Then workers discovered sixteen stairs leading into the earth.
Thousands of baskets filled with rocks and sand had to be carried
away, but eventually a door was found at the end of a long
passageway.
Carter drilled a small hole in the door and stuck an iron-testing
rod into a dark, blank space.
He then inserted a candle into the hole and peered in.
As his eyes grew accustomed to the light, details emerged into
his view.
He saw strange animals, statues, and everywhere the glint of gold.
He wrote, "For the moment, I was struck dumb with amazement."
A partner asked, "Can you see anything?"
And Carter replied, "Yes, wonderful things."
#1957
B. My mom and junk stores in Germany.
1) Filthy plaque becomes a glistening bust of Rembrandt.
C. Moms as a treasure themselves.
II. Treasure parable.
A. No banks in Palestine, so safest place was hole in ground.
1) Man discovers treasure.
a) Such hoards were common in antiquity, esp. in Israel.
b) Modern examples.
About four years ago, eight Dutch children aged 9 to 11
were digging beneath their club house.
A foot and a half down they came across two glass jars.
The jars were filled with coins - Maple Leafs, Kugerrands -
the gold kind.
The coins and jewelry were worth more than $215,000.
It's all theirs - if not claimed in 30 years.
#179
2) Man does curious thing: he buys field (and take treasure).
B. Shady character?
1) Is what he is doing legal?
a) Yes. Owner of field has right to the treasure as soon
as it is "lifted up."
b) "Finders, keepers" did not apply.
c) By not touching treasure, and buying field, he is being
perfectly legal.
2) Is he being ethical? (Not necessarily the same)
a) Jesus' ethics is "doing unto others."
1> If I was owner, I wouldn't want him to do it to me!
b) Man's behavior falls short of golden rule.
3) Legality and ethics not in view. TREASURE is.
III. Pearl parable.
A. Man comes across extraordinary pearl great value.
B. The ancient infatuation with pearls.
1) Tiffany's in New York - pearl necklace worth $33,000.
2) Julius Caesar gave a pearl to Brutus' mother worth $45 million.
3) Cleopatra is said to have owned one worth $750 million.
C. The merchant in the parable sells all he has, and buys it.
IV. Both parables make same point.
A. Several main points have been proposed:
1) Hiddenness of God's kingdom. (But pearl not hidden)
2) Joy in finding God's kingdom. (But joy not emphasized)
3) Searching for the kingdom. (But treasure was by accident)
B. Best meaning:
1) The value of the object stands out in both.
2) Making a heroic effort to acquire it also stands out.
V. What is salvation and God's Kingdom worth to us?
A. Many treat it as a right, or standard issue.
1) Give God a few bucks and a few hours.
2) Just about everyone goes to heaven, right? Wrong!
B. God's Kingdom holds the ultimate value.
1) Eternity is at stake.
2) Our most important task in life is to get right with God.
3) Forgiveness and freedom from guilt results.
4) Direction and meaning in life.
5) Joy of knowing God.
VI. What are you willing to do to get it?
A. Salvation is not by works.
1) Jesus offers it freely.
2) Note than man in field buys field, not treasure.
B. But salvation is also costly.
1) Disciples had to give up all to follow Jesus.
Charles Swindoll expands on the parable of the pearl to bring
out this point.
"I want this pearl. How much is it?"
"Well," the seller says, "it's very expensive."
"But, how much?" we ask.
"Well, a very large amount."
"Do you think I could buy it?"
"Oh, of course, everyone can buy it."
"But, didn't you say it was very expensive?"
"Yes."
"Well, how much is it?"
"Everything you have," says the seller.
We make up our minds. "All right, I'll buy it," we say.
"Well, what do you have?" he wants to know.
"Let's write it down."
"Well, I have ten thousand dollars in the bank."
"Good--ten thousand dollars. What else?"
"That's all I have."
"Nothing more?"
"Well, I have a few dollars here in my pocket."
"How much?"
We start digging.
"Well, let's see--thirty, forty, sixty, sixty-seven dollars."
"That's fine. What else do you have?"
"Well, nothing. That's all."
"Where do you live?" He's still probing.
"In my house. Yes, I have a house."
"The house, too, then." He writes that down.
"You mean I have to live in my camper?"
"You have a camper? That, too. What else?"
"I'll have to sleep in my car!"
"You have a car?"
"Two of them."
"Both become mine, both cars. What else?"
"Well, you already have my money, my house, my camper, my cars.
What more do you want?"
"Are you alone in this world?"
"No, I have a wife and two children..."
"Oh, yes, your wife and children, too. What else?"
"I have nothing left! I am all alone now."
Suddenly the seller exclaims, "Oh, I almost forgot!
You yourself, too!
Everything becomes mine--wife, children, house, money, cars-
-and you too."
Then he goes on.
"Now listen--I will allow you to use all these things for the
time being.
But don't forget that they are mine, just as you are.
And whenever I need any of them you must give them up, because
now I am the owner."
#1468
C. Jesus refuses to be our second-best.
1) Rich young ruler and Jesus.
2) Commitment is costly.
a) Tithe.
b) Turn from sinful habits.
c) Crucify selfishness.
3) But commitment is our only option:
Jim Elliot, a young missionary who died in Ecuador, wrote:
"No man is a fool who gives up what he can't keep
to gain what he can't lose."
VII. What is it worth for YOU to be a Christian?
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
Created with the Freeware Edition of HelpNDoc: Easily create Help documents