THE HIDDEN TREASURE

The next parable in Matthew 13:44 is also only one verse. Using the same approach as we did in the other parables, requires us to list the factors involved. They are: a hidden treasure, a field, a man who discovers it, the re-hiding of the treasure, and the price paid for the field (the place of the hidden treasure). There are all sorts of ways one might interpret this parable, but I will give you my understanding of it. Remember, I am interpreting the parables of the kingdom of heaven as descriptions of the Church Age. I believe the treasure represents the Church, a mystery (hidden truth) to Israel (Romans 11:25; 16:25; Ephesians 3:1-10; 5:32; Colossians 1:25-27; etc.). The Author of the Old Testament hid the concept of the Church. The Man (Jesus) comes to the field (the world), finds the hidden treasure (the Church), and He leaves it hidden until He can purchase the hiding place. The price for the field is unimaginable. It cost the Man all that He had. It cost Him His life.

In 2 Peter 3:9, Peter tells his readers that God wants every soul to repent and not perish. The Lord is not hindered by time, nor is He impatient (verse 8-9). "Every soul" includes the Gentiles. Matthew 1:21 says that Jesus will save His people from their sins, and in Israel's way of thinking, that meant the Jews. Luke clarifies who His people are. In Luke 2:30-32, those described as "His people" are really "all people." Just as Isaiah had foretold in 9:2; 42:6; 49:6; and 60:1-3, the Messiah would be the Savior of both Jew, and Gentile. Then why didn't Israel understand that God is no respecter persons? Why did they think God only loved them? The answer is found in Romans 11:25; "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery (the Church composed of both Jew and Gentile believers), lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." Romans Chapters Nine through Eleven, present a completely new revelation on God's relationship with Israel. Israel is only half of the equation. Paul made that quite clear in Galatians 3:28, that the other half is the Gentile believers. As John 1:11-12 says, and I paraphrase, Jesus came to Israel, and Israel rejected Him, but His offer of salvation by faith in Him was not an exclusive offer. It was to "whosoever will."

God's Word is so amazing! In one, small verse, we see the price paid as revealed in John 3:16, we see the mystery of the Church which was hidden from the Old Testament prophets, and we see something almost unbelievable: we see that He is our Lord because we now belong to Him. O for a thousand tongues...!