New And Old Treasures

Trinity IX -- July 24, 2005

Matthew 13:44-52

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

In our text today, we have three parables. In each one, the kingdom of heaven is compared to something. In the first parable, the kingdom of heaven is like the treasure. In the second parable, the kingdom of heaven is like the merchant looking for the treasure of fine pearls. In the last parable, the kingdom of heaven is like the net let down to catch the fish.

It appears at first glance as if the second two do not agree with the first one. In fact, there are some who have made the pearl of great worth the kingdom of heaven in an attempt to bring together this seeming inconsistency. This is not to be done, for Jesus told these specific parables, making the kingdom of heaven what it is for a purpose. There is a reason for the three parables being told exactly as they are, and the meaning behind each one.

Remember, these three parables are the last three of a set of seven that Jesus began telling to the multitude from the boat. He begins with the parable of the sower and the seed and continues with parables about mustard seed, leaven, and the wheat and the tares. Last Sunday you examined the parable of the wheat and the tares. Today, our text gives us three more as the conclusion of Jesus’ teaching in parables on this particular occasion.

As His conclusion, Jesus said to them, ‘‘Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”(v. 52) Here Jesus is stating that as they now understand these parables and the kingdom of heaven, so will they teach. While there is nothing new in God’s Law nor is there in His Gospel, the faithful teacher/pastor will proclaim those truths not only in the same old manner, but in fresh ways as well. This is not to say that there will be new unfamiliar teachings, but that there will be different ways of applying God’s Word to the people.

Could you imagine hearing the same sermon two weeks in a row? It has been requested of me that I do a Lenten series again, and so I did in Connecticut. But normally, the sermon is a fresh look at a particular passage of Scripture, and then applying it to the congregation in their contemporary setting, language and culture. This is that something new brought out of the storeroom. Of course, every sermon will find its basis in the Holy Scriptures which never change, something old brought out of the storeroom.

There is the fine line to thread for the teacher of the law, the new must never contradict the old. At the same time, there needs to be fresh application, and faithful teachers of the law, therefore, present the Word of God in fresh and living garb week after week.

Today, the Law is no different than it has ever been; neither is the Gospel. I am sure you have heard these parables before. This is the same old treasure of God’s Word. So, let us examine it.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” What treasure could be so precious that someone would sell all that he had to buy a field containing it? Imagine it!

While on vacation two weeks ago we met a rock hound. This was a guy whose love was digging through rocks and taking a metal detector and searching the scrag heaps surrounding old copper mines. He’d find different things, hoping to find some “treasure”. I saw a piece he had on display at a local store for sale for over $300. He’d found it.

Now, imagine he found something that he wasn’t able to dig out, it was on property which is posted that you are not to remove anything from the premises. What would he be willing to pay to buy that piece of property to obtain his find? Would he sell his home, his cars, his snowmobiles, his property, all his possessions, in fact everything he owned, to obtain this one piece of property? Would he do it in joy? Or, would it be an agonizing decision?

That’s Jesus point. The kingdom of heaven in this case is the Gospel, it is such a great treasure that in joy, we are to part with all that we have to obtain it. Some have even given up their own lives in the world for the Gospel, martyred unto death for the faith.

Examine yourselves. Are you willing to give up all your earthly comforts for the Gospel? Look at the time you devote to things of the world - what is it you enjoy? Fishing? Golf? Your home? Your boat? Your snowmobiles? Your cottage? Your money? Your kids’ sporting events? Now compare that to the time you spend with the Gospel - the Word of God proclaimed and preached, the blessed Sacraments administered, Bible reading, prayer, teaching the Gospel to your kids or other neighbors... So, what gets more time? According to Christ, it is a joy to give up those things for the treasure of the Gospel.

In joy, the man sold all that he had and bought the field that contained that treasure. Examine yourself, what is the Gospel of Jesus Christ worth to you?

Jesus continued though. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” This time, the kingdom of heaven is the merchant searching for pearls. He finds one of exceptional quality and value. He also sells everything he has to buy that pearl.

The kingdom of heaven is Christ, He sells everything he has for the pearl of great value, that is you. For you, Christ was willing to give up all that was His - His throne, His place in Heaven, His power and authority over all things, even His own life - that He might purchase you to be His own. You were bought by Him, purchased with the price of His own precious blood and His innocent suffering and death.

Imagine your value to God, that He would go to such great lengths and pay such great cost to obtain you and make you His own? You are the pearl of great value, now the precious possession of the Kingdom of heaven.

Jesus continues. “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore.”

In the parable, again the Kingdom of heaven is the Gospel. As Jesus had told Peter and Andrew that he’d make them fishers of men, so it is. The fishers of men which Christ has called in service to Him and His church, preach the Gospel - they cast the net out into the lake of humanity and caught many fish. Through the Gospel, many are brought into the church. It isn’t the people themselves who choose to come into the church, but the net, the Gospel which brings them.

The Kingdom of indeed comes without our prayers or our works. Christ comes to us in the water of baptism and gathers us to Himself. But even then, not all continue in that faith. Oh, they may say that they bear the name Christian and show some outward affiliation to the church on earth, but on the last day, God’s angels will discern the faithful from the unfaithful.

While you are to hold precious the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and give up all you have for it, for it is of more value than all earthly treasures, you do not always do so. It is for this reason that Christ came and sought you, for you are His pearl of great value, a very precious treasure. He found you and with His very own life He purchased you to be His own possession.

Today I invite you to examine your place as one of great value to God, so precious He gave His Son unto death to purchased a place for you in His eternal kingdom. See your worth to God, and rejoice in the fact that Christ found you as that pearl of great value and bought you with His own precious blood. You are so valued by God that He gathered you to Himself with the net of the Gospel, to make you a part of His kingdom and keep you.

Today, in this place, Christ has cast out the net of His Gospel, and gathered you into His Church. Here He brings to you the same old treasures that have been proclaimed and given to you before - the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation. I pray that they are again new to you, as they renew you in your faith, and that you understand all these things unto life everlasting. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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