1. II. GOD’S KINGDOM IS WORTH INFINITELY MORE THAN WHAT IT COSTS.
1.1. The man who bought the field found “a treasure”
1.1.1. Matthew 13:44 44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.
1.1.2. The Greek word used here, thesauros, refers to a treasure chest or storehouse where a great treasure is kept
1.1.3. It is the same word used in Hebrews 11:26 to describe Moses’ turning of his back on the “treasures of Egypt” in order to follow God.
1.2. The pearl merchant found a pearl “of great value.”
1.2.1. The Greek word used to describe the pearl, polutimos, means something that is very expensive, of great worth, or priceless.
1.2.2. It is the word used of the expensive perfume with which Jesus was anointed before his crucifixion (John 12:3).
1.2.3. In 1 Peter 1:7, Peter describes our faith as being “of greater worth [polutimos] than gold.”
1.3. Belonging to God’s kingdom, being God’s child, is a priceless experience.
1.3.1. Nothing else on earth can wash the dark stains of sin from our lives, can purify the foulest sinful heart,
1.3.2. Can give real peace to a troubled mind
1.3.3. Can calm life’s roughest storms
1.3.4. Can cheer our darkest hours
1.3.5. Can give faith and courage that defy even death
1.3.6. Or can secure the blessing of eternal life
1.4. Finally, verse 44 says that the man who found the treasure in the field “in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
1.4.1. Being part of God’s kingdom will bring you greater joy than you can possibly imagine.
1.4.2. Matthew 13:44 44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.
2. III. YOU MUST CHOOSE TO BELONG TO GOD’S KINGDOM.
2.1. Made a choice to go after it
2.1.1. In the same way, we cannot inherit salvation
2.1.2. YOU make the choice
2.1.3. You must make your own personal decision to commit your life to Christ.
2.2. Some people find God as the man found the treasure in a field
2.2.1. They aren’t looking for God
2.2.2. But in the ordinary course of their lives God finds them.
2.2.3. Some people find God like the merchant who spent his life looking for the pearl of great price
2.2.4. They are looking for God
2.2.4.1. searching for truth
2.2.4.2. hungry for meaning
2.2.4.3. purpose
2.2.4.4. and direction for their lives
2.2.4.5. and at last they find him
2.2.5. However you come to discover the kingdom of God, there comes a point at which you must make a personal decision to enter it by entrusting your life to Christ.
3. CONCLUSION
3.1. Belonging to God’s kingdom is a priceless treasure that exceeds all earthly riches and advantages combined
3.2. It is for everybody
3.3. The Carrot and the stick
3.3.1. Parable of weeds ends with...
3.3.1.1. Matthew 13:42 (NLT) 42 And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
3.3.2. Parable of the Fishing Net (vs 47- 50)
3.3.2.1. Matthew 13:50 (NLT) 50 throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
3.3.3. God is perfect
3.3.3.1. In Grace
3.3.3.2. In Judgement
4. Spiritual Seeker & Apathetick atheist
4.1. Pearl merchant is searching
4.2. Field hand stumbles across it
4.3. Jesus is reaching out to every person. He calls the spiritual seeker as well as the apathetic atheist.
5. Message Video
6. Matthew 13:44–46
6.1. Matthew 13:44 44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.
6.2. Matthew 13:45 45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls.
6.3. Matthew 13:46 46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!
6.3.1. He has been seeking pearls all his life, but this one is far more valuable than all he has seen.
6.3.2. Pearls were even more valuable in ancient times because now they are so easy to fake.
6.3.2.1. Pearl are often used an an example of extravagance
6.3.2.1.1. 1 Timothy 2:9 (NLT) 9 And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.
6.3.2.1.2. Revelation 17:4 (NLT) 4 The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls. In her hand she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality.
6.3.2.1.3. Revelation 18:12 (NLT) 12 She bought great quantities of gold, silver, jewels, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet cloth; things made of fragrant thyine wood, ivory goods, and objects made of expensive wood; and bronze, iron, and marble.
6.3.2.1.4. Revelation 18:16 (NLT) 16 “How terrible, how terrible for that great city! She was clothed in finest purple and scarlet linens, decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls!
6.3.2.2. Huge pearls form the gates in the New Jerusalem
6.3.2.2.1. Revelation 21:21 (NLT) 21 The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.
6.3.2.3. The "Pearl Dealer" sold all the lesser pearls
7. Everyone enjoys a story of treasure found
7.1. It appeals to our secret desires to be wealthy and secure
7.2. But Jesus told the story of two men who found treasure for a different reason, to teach us what his kingdom is actually worth
7.3. The kingdom of God costs everything we have but is worth far more than anything it costs.
8. I. ENTERING GOD’S KINGDOM COSTS EVERYTHING WE HAVE.
8.1. Both the man who found the treasure and the man who found the pearl sold everything they had in order to obtain the prize they sough
8.2. Gospel Demands nothing less
8.2.1. Matthew 10:37 37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.
8.2.2. Matthew 10:38 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.
8.2.2.1. The “sacrifice” of all that is sold is no hardship: it is done out of “delight,”
8.2.2.1.1. not out of a sense of obligation
8.2.2.1.2. Can I do "this" and still go to Heaven
8.2.2.1.3. Luke 9:25 (NLT) 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?
8.2.3. Matthew 10:39 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
8.2.4. Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters,* I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him
8.2.5. The disciples would pay the ultimate price