June 17, 2011
“Again,
the Kingdom of Heaven is LIKE Treasure hidden in a field, which a man
found and hid; and for JOY over it he goes and sells all that he has
and buys that field.”
(Matthew 13:44).
“The Hidden Treasure”
Continued from April 29, 2011; May 6, 2011; May 13, 2011; May 20, 2011; May 20, 2011; May 27, 2011; June 3, 2011; June 10; 2011
Dear Brethren,
Having written about the Parable of the Sower, the seed sown upon the wayside, rocky or stony places of the field, the thorny ground, and the Good Earth, and then the Tares, the focus will now be upon the three remaining Parables.
After sending the crowds away, Jesus Christ spoke the following two parables to His disciples to make known that all anyone seeks for in human life cannot be remotely compared to the treasures that await those who value the calling and selection from God our Father through Jesus Christ that will be bestowed upon them when He returns to this earth.
“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul (potential for eternal life)? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul” (Matthew 16:25-26).
No Real Significant Difference
It should be realized there is very little difference between the symbolic meaning of the Treasure hidden in a field, and the Pearl of Great Price. Scriptures that apply to the one can easily apply to the other.
This writing will be making the effort of explaining the final three Parables in sequence. At the same time it is needful to realize this current writing will only be touching on the surface of the first two in particular for there is great depth in each.
To add to our understanding, it should be realized these Parables were spoken in symbolic language to teach of the fantastic awesome greatness and wonderful joyous blessings that are only given to a select few in this 6,000 year period of time.
A
greater depth of knowledge can be further had with the guidance of
God’s Holy Spirit through continuous study of them; just as
greater treasures can sometimes be had by those who dig deep into the
earth seeking for the treasures of gold, silver, diamonds, rubies,
and other valuable treasures.
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
Matthew 13:44 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is LIKE Treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for JOY over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
Discovery of the Book of the Law
This parable of the Hidden Treasure is similar to the discovery of a copy of the Book of the Law that had been lost and forgotten for almost 70 years. It had survived after all others had apparently been destroyed or lost during the reigns of the former kings who were steeped in idolatry.
This is so like the time we are in today. All the Tribes of Israel are steeped in idolatry and without any real knowledge of God and Jesus Christ that can only be found within the true Church of God.
Excerpts from the Soncino Commentary: “The Book of the Law have I found.” It had been lost and forgotten for almost 70 years. During that long period the kings and people were steeped in idolatry, the temple services were neglected, and copies of the Book of the Law must have been destroyed so that the finding of a copy found in the Temple, probably preserved by one of the faithful priests, must have been a startling event:
II Kings 22:8-20 Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house (The Holy Scriptures discovered in the Temple) of the LORD . . .”
The Holy Bible Interprets Itself
For the understanding of these two parables we must let the Bible interpret itself:
Jesus Christ made known in the parable of the Tares that the FIELD is the world (Matthew 13:41).
The Kingdom of Heaven, as made known by Mr. Armstrong, (unless the context shows otherwise) is the Church of God in embryo.
The Treasure as used here has the symbolic meaning of the calling and selection by God to become His begotten children.
He hides the Treasure.
He goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
Now let us try putting these five points together:
T
he
Church as described by the Parable of the Mustard Seed is the
smallest of all seeds in this world (Field, Luke 12:32). The tiny
Church of God is the Kingdom of God in Embryo; and it is destined to
grow and fill the whole earth during the reign of Jesus Christ
(Daniel 2:31-45).
It begins with the Firstfruits chosen from all of mankind to be born into the Family of God to teach and reign with Jesus Christ in the soon-coming Tomorrow’s World (Revelation 14:1, 4).
The TREASURE can be thought of in different ways, but it primarily appears to have the meaning of one’s mind suddenly opened to the AWARENESS of his being drawn by God our Father to Him wherever he might be in the field.
The awareness of becoming a member of the Church of God in Embryo is like finding that TREASURE in this world, a world that is completely blinded to the truth and way of God, as it was during the time of Josiah; and it requires a special individual calling and selection from among mankind by God our Father through Jesus Christ (John 6:44).
John 6:44 “No one can come to Me UNLESS the Father who sent Me DRAWS him; and I will raise him up in the last day.”
And only the enduring faithful of those selected and chosen will be with Jesus Christ after having been resurrected:
Revelation 17:14 “. . . He is LORD of Lords and KING of Kings; and those with Him are CALLED, CHOSEN, and faithful.”
The discovery of the wonderful and precious treasure—
Matthew 13:44 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is LIKE Treasure hidden in a field (hidden from the world, Matthew 13:11), which a man found (discovered within himself the calling from God) and hid; and for JOY over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that [particular part of the] field.”
“. . . and hid . . .”
This is partly explained in the writings of the Apostle Paul:
I
I
Corinthians 4:6-7 “For it is the God who commanded LIGHT to
SHINE out of darkness (in type-
Genesis 1:3-4; John
1:4-5), who has SHONE in our hearts to give the
LIGHT OF THE
KNOWLEDGE (through His Holy Bible)
of the GLORY OF GOD
in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this TREASURE
[hidden, sealed by God’s Holy Spirit, Ephesians
1:13-14]
in earthen vessels that the excellence of the POWER may be of God and
NOT of us.”
A Blinded Deceived World
And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do you speak to them (the crowds) in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven (understand them), but to them it has NOT been given” (Matthew 13:10-11).
The Apostle Paul makes this very plain:
II Corinthians 4:3-4 “But even if our Gospel is VEILED, it is VEILED to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this world has BLINDED (seed on the wayside), who DO NOT believe, lest the LIGHT of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the IMAGE of God should SHINE on them.”
Finding this fabulous treasure was so precious he sells all that he has to purchase it—
Matthew 13:44 “. . . He goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
This Scripture makes known that each person added to the Church of God by our Father through Jesus Christ must have the willingness and determination, if necessary to obey God, to give up employment, business, family, or whatever that might stand in his or her way of obeying God and living His way of life, as made known by Jesus Christ:
“If anyone comes to Me and does NOT hate (loveless by comparison) his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he CANNOT be My disciple. And whoever does NOT bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26-27).
This parable of the Hidden Treasure and related Scriptures make known the awesome and wonderful blessing that has been given to God’s called and selected people (Malachi 3:17).
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
Cruden’s Concordance – Pearl: “Pearls were considered by the ancients among the most precious of gems and were highly esteemed [as do women]. This is probably the reason why the word is used metaphorically for anything of great value, and especially for wise sayings.”
The12 gates in the Holy City New Jerusalem are 12 special created pearls through which the nations of the earth will come to worship God and Jesus Christ (Revelation 21:21),
M
atthew
13:45-46 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant
seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found ONE PEARL OF GREAT
PRICE, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
Though the finding of the HIDDEN TREASURE and the PEARL OF GREAT PRICE were beyond price, the symbolism of each has the same thing in common – all that the man and the merchant had in their possessions were SOLD in order to purchase the priceless treasures.
The
symbolism of each one selectively chosen from among the almost seven
billions of people on planet earth is both mind-boggling and
humbling!
It is awe-inspiring to realize that sometime in life, according to God’s Time Table, each one begins his or her newly-begotten life setting their affection on the things above (Colossians 3:2).
After growth and development in holy righteous character, while removing the blemishes from our wedding garments, each one is then to become a born again member into Their God Family which will take place in the first resurrection when Jesus Christ returns to this earth in all of His awesome glory and majesty. (John 3:3, 5-8).
Then the change from mortal to immorality, from weakness to power, from dishonor to glory (I Corinthians 15:42-44)—
Matthew 24:31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His ELECT (called and chosen people) from the four winds (directions) from one end of heaven to the other.
M
atthew
13:43 “Then the RIGHTEOUS SHALL SHINE FORTH AS THE
SUN
in the Kingdom of their Father; he who has ears to hear let him
hear.”
Daniel 12:2-3 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall AWAKE, . . . to everlasting life . . . Those who are wise shall SHINE like the brightness of the firmament, and THOSE who turn many to righteousness (doing the Work of God) like the STARS forever and ever.”
A Chosen Generation
God led the Apostle Peter to write of the very special calling and selection of the Firstfruits:
I Peter 2:9-10 “But YOU are a CHOSEN GENERATION (a special generation that is made up of people from the beginning to where we now are), a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own SPECIAL PEOPLE, that you may proclaim the PRAISES of Him who called YOU OUT OF DARKNESS into His marvelous light (TRUTH); who were once NOT a people but are now the people of God, who had NOT obtained mercy but NOW have obtained mercy.”
“. . . Called out of darkness . . .”
Ephesians 2:1-8 “And YOU He made ALIVE (through His calling and selection of His true people – discovering the HIDDEN TREASURE and purchasing THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE) who were DEAD in trespasses and sins (, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (Satan the devil), the spirit that NOW works in the sons of disobedience, among WHOM we also once conducted ourselves in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, BECAUSE of His great LOVE with which He LOVED us, even when we were dead in trespasses, MADE US ALIVE together with Christ (by GRACE you have been saved) and RAISED US UP together, and made us SIT together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the AGES TO COME He might show the EXCEEDING RICHES of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For BY GRACE you have been saved through FAITH (after discovering the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price), and that NOT of yourselves; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD.”
Exceeding Riches of His Grace
The exceeding riches of the grace of God will begin with our being resurrected and then aiding Jesus Christ in the firm rulership together with the teaching of God’s holy righteous laws changing this evil world into a world of Godly love and righteousness.
Daniel 7:27 “Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. Their kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.”
Revelation 20:4, 6 And I saw thrones, and those who sat on them, and judgment was given to them . . . Blessed and holy is he has part in the First Resurrection. Over such the 2nd death has NO POWER, and they shall be PRIESTS of God and of Christ. And shall REIGN with Him for a 1,000 years.
Mystery of the Ages, Page 362-363, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong
“
.
. . We are to be given jurisdiction over the entire universe. These
Scriptures (previously given in this book) indicate we shall impart
life to billions and billions of dead planets, as life has been
imported to this earth. We shall create, as God directs and
instructs. We shall rule through all eternity . . .
How wonderful beyond the ability of words to express is the glory of God and His wonderful purpose actually now in progress. Praise, honor and glory be to God and to Jesus Christ forever and ever.
With God’s great Master Plan of seven thousand years finally completed— the mystery of the ages finally revealed, and with the re-creating of the vast universe and eternity lying ahead, we come finally to
THE BEGINNING.
To be continued—
The next writing will be devoted to the Parable of the Dragnet
Your
servant and friend,
Don
Billingsley
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