Kingship
Part Six
After Jesus finished the Beach Parables He went into the house (Matt. 13:36) where only the Twelve would hear the explanation of the Wheat/Weeds and the four parables that followed. Jesus had a captive audience who desired to understand Kingdom Principles. After giving another pattern for explaining a parable He taught these believers that, in God’s eyes, there are only two kinds of people in this world: sons of the kingdom or sons of the evil one and there’s a final destination for both (see vs. 41-43).
The parable of Hidden Treasure has been explained in various ways throughout Church history, however, let’s compare Scripture and follow Jesus’ pattern for our understanding. God has always had a hidden treasure; what is it?
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine; Exodus 19:5
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His own special treasure. Psalms 135:4
According to the Bible the Jewish people are chosen as His treasure hidden among the people of the world; Jesus had already explained that the field represented the world. He was speaking only to Jewish men in the house who had faith and desired to learn about kingship. They knew:
… the Lord’s portion is His people, Jacob His allotted heritage. He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; He encircled him, He cared for him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. Deuteronomy 32:9-10
Jesus is the person described in these parables (vs. 37) but now the treasure was covered up again. Why did He hide His treasure a second time? Would it stay buried and forgotten?
Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me. Isaiah 49:15-16
The majority of the Jews rejected Jesus so He buried them once again, temporarily, but joyfully purchased the field at the Cross (John 3:16). His chosen people virtually remain hidden until the end of the age when they are eternally uncovered (Rev. 7:1-10).
Matthew, a trained Levite, understood this parable and so did Paul.
Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But He wanted His own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it. Romans 11:11-12
Jesus bought the whole darn field in order to uncover His Pearl of Great Price: His Bride (next week).
Comments are closed.