Matthew 13:44

Verse of the Day Devotion Matthew 13:44 

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” – Matthew 13:44 

The parable we will look at today is of the Hidden Treasure.  Here is this parable, which is also our focus verse as told in Matthew’s gospel.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44.

Jesus here equates the kingdom to a man who finds treasure, one that is buried in a field. Treasure could denote where valuables are stored, as is found earlier in Matthew. “And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11. However, in this verse it denotes the valuable item itself.  In a day when places for keeping things safe that we take for granted (like the safe deposits in banks) did not exist people had to make their own arrangements. One method they employed was to bury their valuable possessions (as did the unprofitable servant who hid his talent instead of investing it). If anyone did this before going off on a journey and failed to return, the possessions remained there and might be found later through a chance discovery like that in this parable. And what kind of field this was unknown.  Could have been anything, however many believe it was a field for crops.

And there have been questions as to the morality of finding a treasure there, and then hiding it so he can purchase it. However, this is irrelevant in the meaning of the parable.  Jesus is not dealing with the morality or legality of the man’s action but making the point that there can be treasure such that it is worth selling everything in order to possess it, such as with membership in the kingdom.

Jesus says that the man was very happy over his discovery; finding treasure must surely be a joyful experience.  And the man’s joy leads him to go off and buy the field, even though this meant he must first sell all he has.  The man realized this treasure far surpassed the value of the sum of everything he has.  Therefore, he determined living with this treasure was better then living with what he had.

Jesus is not saying that a man may buy his way into the kingdom; that would fly in the face of all his teaching. The selling of all he has is rather a way of bringing out the truth that one should count all we have as lost for the sake of the kingdom, for this treasure is the grace and forgiveness of God, through the death of Jesus Christ, whereby we will live for all eternity with Jesus.  This parable thus begs the question.  Do we view salvation and eternity with God worth giving up everything we have?  Are we willing to give to give it all up, including our things, property, friends, reputation, etc. to follow Christ? This is what He cal of us.  He is asking us what we value more, the treasures of this world, or the treasures of God? The answer is very clear to me, God’s riches. It may not appear to be riches from the world’s point of view, but membership in the kingdom has infinite value which all the worlds wealth could never come close to matching.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

Hebrews 4:13

Verse of the Day Devotion:  Hebrews 4:13

“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” –  Hebrews 4:13 

This verse speaks to the all-knowing attribute of God, something we do not have.  David, in Psalm 139 says the following in viewing this attribute.  “If I say, Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night, Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.” Psalm 139:11-12.  The word translated “overwhelm” has an additional meaning of cover, which verse 12 makes this meaning probable.  In fact, this is the same verse in the English Standard Version (ESV) which matches the way the KJV states it.  “If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.“   What David here is saying is that there is no way I can hide anything I do, even though I try to cover it up. 

And this is what the writer of Hebrews is saying.  God sees all things and hears all things.  As our focus verse states, there is no creature hidden from His sight.  He is infinitely wise and has infinite knowledge.  There is nothing our God does not know, and we can look at this as a good or a not so good thing.  However, either way you look at it, He knows us better then we know ourselves.  Therefore, we must realize that we can hide nothing from Him. 

God’s Word accurately and penetratingly expose what is in our hearts.  We can look at what His Word says about us, and if we look seriously at it, we will see things we may not want to admit.  And this is because God knows everything that is there.  We must never think we can hide anything from God, for His eyes see all because of His omnipresence.  “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3. There is nowhere He is not, therefore it is impossible to hide anything from Him.   

Before I was truly saved, I used to think in this way.  Essentially, if others did not know I did wrong, God probably did not as well.  But after sitting under an incredible pastor in Homestead Fl, I came to the understanding that nothing was hid from Him.  Not that I believed He did not know, but I did not give any thought to God knowing what I had done.  It was only after spending more intimate time with God did I begin to realize the fullness of His understanding.  I realized no matter whether anyone else knew what I did, whether good or bad, God knew.  So now, when I pray at the end of each day, I ask God to show me what I do not know or accept, so I can address it with Him. 

I want to encourage everyone to do the same.  It is easy for us to deceive ourselves, but it is impossible to deceive our loving and faithful God.  It is not always pleasant for God to open our eyes to who we really are.  It can be difficult to accept.  However, it is important for us to listen to Him, whether what He says is good or not so good.  It is important that we present ourselves fully and completely to God as we are, so that He can change us to what we ought to be.  “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Romans 12:1-2. 

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.