From Matthew 13:44 Kingdom parable #5 – the mystery of REVELATION.

Spurgeon says this parable is about Christ, His dying to purchase the whole world that He might have the treasure of those given to Him by the Father found in it.

Others say it appears to be directed more to the Believer. When once our eyes see and comprehend the glories of Christ – that which is hidden to the ordinary view of men, we cannot simply ignore it. From the outside, men cannot comprehend why we would sell all to have some mere field. But we have seen the treasure. We have glimpsed its infinite worth. He who is but a man to most, is the Son of God to us.

The One who is but the Carpenter’s son, whose brothers and sisters are with us (Mark 6:3) – is in fact, God robed in human flesh – God with us. To some He is nothing but a moral teacher, and to others He was a rabble-rouser and a misfit. To us who see, He is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Unless the Spirit uncover Him, we do not see.

Now in truth, there is no reason to divide interpretations here, for the principle is exactly the same: Seeing value in what others do not or cannot, and finding that treasure so compelling, that the loss of all else is worth it to possess it.

In terms then of this being Christ finding the Church buried in the dust of this earth – what a magnificent thing to consider all that He would willingly set aside that He might have it? It is beyond comprehension.

Hint to preachers: Boaz in the book of Ruth may be a good parallel to this type of the man pictured here. The nearer kinsman redeemer is a picture of the opposite. The other had first claim, but did not consider Ruth and Naomi treasure – Boaz did.

In a complete other tack, Lenski says the treasure is the Word, the Scripture. That once we discover the treasure in it, we give all to know it and all it contains and reveals to us – especially Christ.

Note too how this applies to those exposed to Gospel truth and yet leave it.

It is very often true that one sees value in the very same thing others pass by and consider of little or no worth. This man saw what others didn’t. They might have examined the same parcel. Walked up and down in it. Turned over the soil. Seen the kind of crops it has yielded, but did not care for the fruit of it. They have a different aim. They desire something else. But not this man – he sees in it what they disregard in it and counts what they pass over, a treasure.

Note the issue of finding the treasure, then covering it up before going off to buy it. There is nothing untoward here. The idea isn’t that his thought is to prevent others from getting the treasure instead of him, as much as it is his desire not to in any way chance losing it. He must have it. It is just out there in an ordinary field, no special place, perhaps not even on someone else’s property. Maybe the field is even for sale. But he has found in it what others clearly didn’t. And he will take every step he can to obtain it.

Jerome says. That he hides it, does not proceed of envy towards others, but as one that treasures up what he would not lose, he hides in his heart that which he prizes above his former possessions.

Lastly, in regard to selling all to obtain the treasure: You cannot have Christ truly, if you are not willing to let go of everything else you might value in order to gain Him? What is so valuable that time with Him is so cheaply sold by us? What of sin is so valuable that it is worth hanging on to rather than to Him? Pride? Social standing? Peer opinion? Drunkenness? Sex? Partying?

George MacDonald prayed:

Lord, in thy spirit’s hurricane, I pray,     

Strip my soul naked—dress it then thy way.  Change for me all my rags to cloth of gold.     

Who would not poverty for riches yield?     

A hovel sell to buy a treasure-field?     

Who would a mess of porridge careful hold     

Against the universe’s birthright old?