Priceless

Stories With A Purpose

Priceless

Matthew 13:44-46

What is it that you value most?

Understanding These Parables

Two Possible Interpretations:

• Jesus who purchased our salvation is represented by the men in these parables

“as it is written: 'None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.'” (Romans 3:10–12)

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)

• The men represent followers of Christ, who recognize the value of the kingdom and are willing to sacrifice anything to gain it

“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33)

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:7–8)

The Kingdom of Heaven is so valuable that it is worth sacrificing anything to gain it!

Four Similarities:

• They recognized the value of what they had found

• They determined to have it

• They sold everything in order to get it (Joy)

• They acquired the treasure

One Interesting Difference:

• One stumbled upon the treasure, the other was seeking it

“I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that was not called by my name.” (Isaiah 65:1)

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

Applying These Parables

Secondary things may prevent us from receiving God’s best!

God may call us to make some major changes or adjustments in our lives to experience all that He desires to be and do in and through our lives.

1. Our Circumstances

“While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” (Matthew 4:18–20)

2. Our Resources

“When Jesus heard this, he said to him, 'One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.'” (Luke 18:22)

3. Our Relationships

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37)

4. Our Thinking

“And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.” (Acts 10:28)

5. Our Actions

“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” (Luke 9:23–25)

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice is too great for me to give for Him.”  C.T. Studd

A Closing Observation:

Both men in the parables Seized the moment!

Making It Personal:

• Are you genuinely a part of God’s Kingdom through responding to His grace through repentance and faith?

• What is it that you value most? What does your calendar, your dominant thoughts and your handling of money, tell you about what your truly value? 

• What adjustments in your thinking, relationships, attitude or actions may need to take place in light of this parable?

• Who can you share these truths with?