The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price are two of Jesus’ well-known parables that emphasize the value of the kingdom of heaven. These parables teach that the kingdom of heaven is so precious that it is worth sacrificing everything to obtain it.
Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44)
Jesus told the Parable of the Hidden Treasure in Matthew 13:44: “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.”
In this parable, Jesus illustrates that the kingdom of heaven is like a hidden treasure that someone unexpectedly comes across. Upon finding this treasure, the man sells everything he has to buy the field containing the treasure. He does this because the treasure is so valuable to him that it is worth giving up everything else to obtain it.
The meaning is that the kingdom of heaven is supremely precious. When someone discovers the truth of the gospel and the kingdom of God, they should joyfully give up everything else to follow Christ and be part of His kingdom. Earthly possessions and relationships should not keep someone from pursuing eternal life in God’s kingdom.
Parable of the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45-46)
Right after the Parable of the Hidden Treasure, Jesus told the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price in Matthew 13:45-46: “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.”
In this parable, the merchant is actively searching for fine pearls to buy. When he finds one pearl of extraordinary value, he sells everything he has to purchase that one pearl. Again, the point is that the kingdom of heaven is so valuable that it is worth sacrificing everything else to obtain it.
The merchant was busy seeking many different pearls, much like people today frantically search for meaning and purpose in various things of this world. But the kingdom of God surpasses any worldly possession or relationship in value and meaning. Nothing else can compare to the joy and fulfillment of knowing Christ.
Kingdom of Heaven Demands Our All
Both parables make it clear that the kingdom of heaven is of supreme worth and demands our total commitment. When someone grasps the gospel message and understands what it means to follow Jesus, they will joyfully give up lesser treasures to gain the far greater treasure of eternal life in Christ’s kingdom.
Jesus does not mean that we must literally sell everything we own in order to obtain salvation. However, He requires that He be first place in our lives above all else (Matthew 6:33). The kingdom of God must have full preeminence. We must be willing to give up anything and everything that compromises our allegiance to King Jesus.
Our relationship with Christ should be so precious that all other loves and priorities pale in comparison. He alone can provide absolute security, hope, meaning, and eternal salvation. Nothing on this earth can satisfy like Christ can.
Exchanging Worthless Things for Priceless Treasure
In reality, sacrificing our earthly possessions and relationships to follow Christ is not a loss at all. Whatever we give up for Him is nothing compared to what we gain in return – forgiveness, inner peace, joy, purpose, and eternal life.
Jim Elliot, famous missionary who was killed in Ecuador, once said: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” This perfectly sums up the message behind these parables.
We cannot keep the fleeting treasures of this world. Whatever we have on earth we will eventually lose. But the treasure of Christ and His kingdom is eternal. It cannot be taken away. When we give up our lives to follow Jesus, we exchange worthless things for priceless everlasting treasure.
Cost of Discipleship
Sacrificing for the sake of Christ’s kingdom is a theme throughout Jesus’ teaching. In Luke 14:33, He says that whoever does not give up everything cannot be His disciple. He calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him (Luke 9:23). There is a cost to discipleship.
Following Jesus requires exchanging our old sinful lives for new righteous ones in Him. We must lay aside selfish interests and live fully for God’s glory and His purposes. Our lives are not our own anymore, we belong to Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
But as the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and Pearl of Great Price illustrate, whatever the cost of following Jesus, the rewards far outweigh the sacrifices. Eternal life in God’s kingdom is priceless treasure for which no earthly sacrifice is too great.
Seeking the Kingdom First
These parables remind us to continually seek God’s kingdom above all else. In our consumer-driven culture, it is easy to clutter our lives pursuing careers, possessions, pleasures, and relationships for their own sake.
But Jesus tells us to seek first His kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be added as needed (Matthew 6:33). As we realign our priorities to make Christ first place, we will begin to view everything in our lives in light of eternity.
The fleeting treasures of this world will dim in comparison to knowing Christ and living for His eternal kingdom. Daily life will become an adventure in light of the priceless treasure for which we have sacrificed everything else to gain.
Selling All to Buy the Field
Why did the man in the first parable have to buy the whole field just to get the treasure? He could not buy just the treasure itself. Likewise, we cannot isolate the kingdom of God from Christ’s lordship over everything in our lives.
If Jesus is truly King, then He is Lord of all or not Lord at all. We cannot surrender areas of our lives selectively. Surrendering fully to His lordship is the only way to gain the treasure of salvation and eternal life.
Buying the field means submitting our entire lives to the ownership of the Master. We exchange self-rule for joyful service to the King of kings. When we make such a trade, we gain immeasurable treasure in return.
Kingdom Comes Through Suffering
Right after telling these parables, Jesus asked His disciples if they understood what He was teaching. When they said yes, Jesus responded: “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old” (Matthew 13:52).
Interestingly, Jesus goes on to experience rejection in His hometown immediately afterwards (Matthew 13:53-58). This shows that the kingdom of heaven would come through suffering. Jesus sacrificed everything to provide this kingdom for us. We must be willing to sacrifice for it as well.
Worth Forsaking Everything
The kingdom of God is worth forsaking everything for because nothing else provides unconditional love, absolute security, hope, freedom from sin, inner peace, purpose, meaning, and eternal life.
Earthly treasures do not last. Even family relationships, as precious as they are, are only temporary in this life. But the treasure of Christ’s kingdom is eternal and inexhaustible.
Knowing Jesus provides satisfaction that far surpasses anything else. He alone can redeem, restore, forgive, reconcile, heal, and give eternal life. His salvation and lordship are supremely valuable.
Supreme and Eternal Joy
The man who found the hidden treasure and the merchant who found the pearl went away rejoicing. They were filled with joy, for they had found supreme worth. When someone discovers the treasure of Jesus Christ, they cannot help but rejoice.
Knowing Him provides a joy that no amount of money can buy and no earthly circumstance can take away. Relationships with others eventually disappoint, but relationship with Christ through the Holy Spirit brings supreme and eternal joy.
The kingdom of God satisfies our deepest longings and provides blessings that far outweigh any sacrifice. Even during trials, the joy of the Lord remains our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). This joy is both a foretaste and guarantee of eternal delight in God’s presence.
Living Life in Light of Eternity
These parables are an invitation to live our lives in light of eternity. Loving Christ more than anything requires seeing reality from an eternal perspective rather than only an earthly one.
C.S. Lewis said: “If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
Living for Christ may mean sacrifice, but it brings infinite and eternal reward. The fleeting pleasures of this world must be forfeited to gain eternal joy in God’s presence. When we truly grasp the glory of the gospel, the hardest sacrifice becomes easy.
Seeing the Superior Worth of Christ
These parables are an invitation to search for supreme treasure. The kingdom of God is hidden like the treasure in the field. The merchant searched extensively until he found the one pearl of great price.
Too often we settle for lesser treasures that cannot satisfy. But if we earnestly seek Jesus, we will discover the greatest treasure worth selling everything to obtain. When we truly see the superior worth of knowing Christ, we will joyfully give up everything else to gain Him.
Jim Elliot also said: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” This is the message of the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price. May we sacrificially follow Jesus, exchanging worthless things for the priceless treasure of His eternal kingdom.