44 “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. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The treasure was so valuable that when the man discovered it, he knew it was worth more than he had.

The two main points of this story are the joy of the discovery and the willingness to give up everything to make the treasure his own.

What was the treasure and the pearl?  Who is the one making the purchases?  There are some that say the treasure is the nation of Israel, that the field is the world and the man who sells all he has to buy the field is Jesus Christ. Commentators stress that when we deal with parables the details are never meant to be overly dogmatic in interpretation.   

The main point of the paragraph is that the kingdom of God is more valuable than anything else we could possibly own and that we should be willing to joyfully give up everything to obtain it.   

In this chapter the Kingdom of heaven is the subject. It is like the wheat and weeds growing together in a field which will be divided at the end times. It is like a mustard seed which is small but will grow into one of the largest plants. It is like yeast in dough that rises. It is like a net catching all kinds of fish some of which need to be thrown back, and it is like a hidden treasure in a field and a pearl of great price.

The subject of each parable is the kingdom.  We need to look at the principles that Jesus is relating, all of which are supported elsewhere in Jesus’ teaching. The kingdom is the reign of God in our lives.

The purchase of the field need not imply the salvation of Christ, nor the kingdom purchased by us. It need only imply that the value of the kingdom is worth more than all we have and we should be willing to give up everything to have it.

In Mark 10:21 Jesus tells the rich young ruler "Go and sell whatever you have and give to the poor and you will have treasures in heaven and come and follow me."  The kingdom was the real treasure. He could have it, if he had been willing to sell all his possessions and follow Jesus. The similarities between Jesus’ teaching here and with the rich young ruler is striking. The reward of going and selling is the treasure. The Kingdom of heaven is rich beyond comparison, with eternal life and unending blessing.

Consider the value. God's Kingdom is incorruptible, undefiled, unfading, and infinite.  Its value far exceeds that of the world's richest treasures hidden in the field. It is passed over by multitudes who never know it is there.   

Also, pearls had a very special place in the lives of the people. They were not only valued for money, but for their beauty. It is suggestive, that to find the Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a priceless pearl. It meant the Kingdom of Heaven is the loveliest thing in all the world.

Application:  Look at all choices in light of the Kingdom

Prayer:  Lord, give me an insatiable desire for You and Your Kingdom so that I will always be searching for this as a pearl of great price!