Listen to Sermon
Pastor Tom Johnson, July 30, 2017
Jesus calls us again to contemplate the Kingdom—to think about his role as King and our role as citizens. So, he tells us parables. He tells stories to illustrate the truth of who he is for us, who we are to him, and who we are to each other. The parable of the treasure in the field is a brief illustration of the Kingdom—one of a number strung together. And it is one that is worth pondering and taking to heart. And again, Jesus does not tell this one parable to complete our picture but to highlight the truth about our relationship with him and one another.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
This is the first century equivalent of winning the lottery. The odds are this would almost never happen—let’s say one in a billion that someone would stumble upon so much wealth abandoned for someone else to claim. It is so much treasure that he cannot stash it in his home because someone is likely to see him hauling all that stuff back and forth. So, he must hide it where it is and buy the field. In order to purchase the field he must sell all he has. He surrenders all his earthly possessions with joy so that he can claim the treasure. His personal wealth is nothing compared to the incalculable worth of the treasure.
And so the Kingdom of God comes to us. From a human perspective, it too is something unlikely and unexpected—such a rare find that it seems like we did not find the treasure but that the treasure found us...like we are predestined. The treasure catches our eye. The treasure trips us unaware. The treasure steals our loyalty. All that we have accumulated—all that we call our own suddenly seems like nickels and dimes compared to the pot of gold worth millions.
So we with joy let go of what we own—to lay hold of the infinite value of our treasure in heaven. “Seek first the Kingdom of God,” Jesus says, “and all these things will be given to you” (Matt 6:33). Apart from God, we live in spiritual poverty. But in him, we are all rich in love, grace and mercy. The prophet Isaiah says that our own righteousness is like filthy rags, [our righteousness is] like autumn leaves that wither and fall (Isa 64:6). But in Christ, we are clothed in righteousness—the beautiful and brilliant robes we found—or that found us—in the treasure chests. “Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the Cross I cling; Naked come to Thee for dress; Helpless look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die.”
And so here we are having stubbed our toes on the grace of God. We love because he first loved us. Mercy has found us—we will not be punished or rejected because of our sin. Grace has found us—we have a righteousness that is not our own. We love others with the love that found us first. It is free. It is freely given. Such treasure challenges us to joyfully let go of what we think belongs to us. Such treasure wakes us up to the heavenly reality that seems too rare and too good to be true. Such treasure transforms our lives from the bottom-up and the inside-out. We realize who we really are: royal daughters and sons of the Kingdom. We are called to measure all things in light of his priceless gift. We can let go—open our hands—surrender our time, talent, and treasure for what is infinitely greater. So we invest all we are and all we have in the treasure of God’s love—with joy—not to purchase the treasure but because it has already found us. We are the ones—not the treasure—who are carried away by our joy. God has given his Son of infinite worth. We are purchased not with gold or silver but his precious blood. The reign of God emerges as we discover this gift. His Kingdom comes and we will never be the same.
Jesus, priceless treasure,
Fount of purest pleasure,
Truest friend to me,
Ah, how long in anguish.
Shall my spirit languish,
Yearning, Lord for Thee?
Thou art mine, O Lamb divine!
I will suffer naught to hide thee;
Naught I ask beside Thee.
(“Jesus, Priceless Treasure,” LSB 743 v. 1)
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