Matthew 13:44
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells everything that he has, and buys that field.”
I read several commentaries on this parable. Many were twisted in knots about it. I’m going to interpret it as I see it. As I read this I’m reminded of another challenging passage, Luke 14:26. It says, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.” Jesus isn’t telling us to hate people, as His second commandment was to love people. He is saying by comparison to our love and devotion to God, all else seems like hate. Or maybe a better way to say it is, we obey God first. That’s what it means to fear God.
Today’s passage says we sell all to gain the treasure. We aren’t buying a right relationship with God, as Jesus paid the price. It’s free to us. However, we give up the right to run our lives. That’s the “sells everything”. This concept scares many away. I get that. What they don’t know is that God is loving and only wants the best for them. Also, He is all wise, so His ways really are better. So, as we submit to Him and His plan we will get the best outcome for ourselves.
I’ve been walking with the Lord since I was 17 years old. That’s 47 years. The first few years were good, but I had some wrong conceptions of God, and I struggled with guilt. But as I learned about Him through the bible, Those wrong ideas about God were washed away. Now I have a Father who has adopted me, and He leads me through the Holy Spirit into good things. He has my children, and they are learning to follow Him.
This parable speaks of selling all. In comparison it would be like a hoarder giving up his trash. It is hard for him. Yet, in parting with it, he becomes free. As we loosen the grip on things, some things we lose other things He gives back to us in a balanced way. We master them instead of being mastered by them.
Lord, thank You for the treasure we have in You. It’s all we need. You do give us more, but under Your lordship. Thank You, Lord.