2019-08-04-LIVE OAKS - Parable of the weeds
I have to you know, fully-fledged adult human beings here amongst us that I knew when they were little sprigs back in youth group days years ago and the running joke was I'm always going to turn to Genesis and I'm always going to end up crying. So one of the two ain't bad.
So happy to see them this morning Matthew 13 verse 44 continuing and are Parables of Jesus. If you get it, you get it. If you have ears to hear you hear you might not fully understand but you hear enough to say Cheese's what are you talkin about? Please tell me more. I have to know I have to know all I know is that your words bring life is confuses me, but I want to know more to Jesus's is teaching in these in these sometimes ridiculous riddles of Parables. And here's another one Matthew 13:44. The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which a man found in covered up. Been in his Joy. He goes and sells all that he has and buys that field know Jesus goes on to tell two more Parables of a very similar ilk and then puts a little PostScript on it. But all we're going to be focused on this morning is just this one verse this one Parable 1344. parable of the hidden treasure Jesus gives no explanation to this Parable which of course as a preacher brings me to a an interesting position of do I do I just read the parable and in and let it let it lie. Don't you get it you get it or do I seek to unpack it? I am going to seek to unpack it by the grace of God the power of the Holy Spirit. Lets let's pray that I am hearing and seeing correctly because Jesus doesn't give us an explanation but it seems rather straightforward kind of seems rather straightforward to me probably to you too store goes guys going thru. A field finds a treasure. Treasure berries it which kind of seems a little sketchy at first right covers it up and then he goes and sells everything and so he has the money to buy that field because if you have the field you have the treasure inside the field now the whole like burying up covering it up that does seem a little sketchy but just a little bit about a Jewish property law back then whatever buried in the land whoever owns the land that's yours. The reason it was buried it's not like Pirates like the land and the people are so used to being conquered by other people and there were no banks. There were no Vault somewhere. The money was a digital. I mean like it was tangible treasured possession. So they wanted to keep it, you know some you know, you know roaming band of ner do Wells come through your treasure is safe because it's buried it can't be found only knew only you know where it was. So apparently This story just going to read me a little backstory here. I'm the person who buried the treasure is not the one who selling the field. Otherwise, he would have got his treasure back. So this is probably Lana's probably turned over a few times and and the owner of the land really has no idea no idea. What's in the field with this guy finds it. Hey Mikey's just you know, he's a little less than fully liquid, you know is assets we have to go and sell stuff sell everything. He has actually to buy the field. Okay, so this itself is an analogy, but I love analogy. So I'm going to make an analogy for this analogy. Okay, there's a house across the street from from this property right across the street. It's not really you know, it's not a looker. It might be a little bit of a fixer upper but I'm curious. So let's say there's an open house. Okay, I go to the open house. Grab a peppermint on my way in and just kind of walking around and I'm just searching around and I and II in the master bedroom thing. I open the closet and I looked down and that's weird that floorboard looks a little SQ. So I reached down and I pick it up and then there's like this enormous pleasure night and look around see if anybody has a note 8 and the note says whoever owns the house gains the treasure. I put the board back that pull up or back up and look at again. Whoever owns the house. Games of treasurer for the board back and start doing some thinking here and taking okay. Now that's curious about this property now. I'm really curious about this property. How much is it again? What's the asking price?
Fire sale everything everything and is scraped together enough to buy it in cash because check it out. Whoever owns the house. You do realize that the bank probably owns your house, right? The bank still owes my house. They're letting me live in it, you know, after 30 years of making little payments then I'll own it. The only place the game the treasure got to own the place the bank on some place the treasures not mine to own it. I sell everything that I have to buy the place in cash and then a game the treasure whoever owns the house gains the treasure
Back to the parable Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure in a field which a man found covered up then in his Joy. He goes and sells all that. He has advised that field. This is
this is very clearly. Jesus showing us that life in the kingdom is not a life of drudgery and like white-knuckled obligation to do what is right in and worship cuz it's riding and in giving offering and pay the tithe cuz it's riding love everybody because that's what's right and not lie and you know, not not.
Chick everybody like you and want to be to have to believe in Jesus and I have to take all the things that tempt you in your life. I want to indulge in that so badly, but I can't because it's against the rules that is not life in the Kingdom K life in the Kingdom. According to this Parable cording to Jesus is that this man finds a treasure? He doesn't find obligation. He doesn't find a path like wrote obedience. He finds a treasure so he covers it up. And with what in what does he go and sell everything? Enjoy he goes. This is a joyful exercise for him. It's not like okay fine Jesus.
With joy, he gives of everything and noticed he he is not trading treasure for obligation. He's treating treasure for surpassing treasure. He doesn't sells the things that he used to treasure, but now compared to this treasure. I'll show up at what's that worth compared to what I found what I thought was awesome is not awesome anymore. Here it is. So turned Philippians will hear from from Paul. He has something awesome to say on this subject some Philippians chapter 3 starting in / 7 Paul says, but whatever gain I had I counted as loss. For the sake of Christ, whatever treasure I used to treasure now compared to real treasure that treasure anymore and D. I count everything as loss because of the of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
For his sake. I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I might gain Christ everything. I used to value compared to Christ is now worth nothing. Actually. He goes beyond that. It's not only worth nothing that cost me. It's negative worth its negative value. Can I used to treasure it it's dead to me. It's gone. Now that I see Christ now that I've been given the ice to see him now that I've been given the ears to hear him. He is treasure that is not so Paul is trading everything that he used to think was treasurer for now surpassing treasure. So that's what this man in the field is doing its he's trading treasure for greater treasure with joy Kiko's and sells everything speaking of kids in my youth group or adults who used to be kids in my youth group. There was a summer where we went to a conference and we were just really punch Square in the face with the reality of human trafficking in the world. And in the hundreds of thousands millions of young girls and boys being sold into slavery there more slaves now than ever in human history.
I'm here about something that we can do a Ministry that we can support that that goes in and rescues these girls in these boys from slavery.
And you know, what kind of slavery I'm talkin about.
And we talked about this this Mission organization and we could help. This young lady in my youth group. She goes home, and she's not content just to feel bad. Compared to what? She has just seen so she goes I get a call from her mother. She's upset and she wants me to fix it. The reason she's upset is this young woman? Was taking everything she owned and selling it. To give to this Mission organization and his mother was like, I think she's lost her mind. Those are important things are valuable things. They probably but compared to the treasure. The lives of those children everything that she used to count as value is now loss. Like what she explained to me was Tommy the things that I'm seeing that have surrounded myself with they disgust me.
How can I live with all of this treasure when they're living out there that understand we trade? We used to consider treasure for something that far exceeds it far surpasses it. And that is what Jesus asked us to do looking Luke. He man, he he doesn't pull any punches with this one and Luke 14 beginning and verse 25.
There's no great crowds accompanied them and he turned to them and said if anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children brothers and sisters. Yes, even his own life cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple for which of you deciding to build a tower does not first sit down and count the cost for their he has enough to complete it. Otherwise when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish all who see it begin to mock him. Sing this man began to build and was not able to finish or what king going out to encounter. Another king in war will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with with 10,000 to meet him who comes against him with 20,000 and if not while the other is yet a great way off. He sends a delegation asked for turns a piece. So therefore any one of you who does not renounce all that. He has cannot be my disciple. Not now look here. It's a little bit buried in here. We look at 29 about not being able to finish the tower bit in verse 29. Otherwise when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish all who see it begin to mock him. Just this last week a pastor and nearly out of Theologian wrote several books that I read cover-to-cover through get mind passion for Jesus. He announced through social media that he's going through his deconversion. He separated from his wife divorced his wife. He renounce his faith and he's celebrating it.
What what is the world do when they see that they go safe? The garbage anyway, he finally realize it was all just a bunch of he didn't finish it. He started and he didn't finish and now he looks foolish which makes Jesus a foolish. Jesus says count it now count it now your property your family your life.
It is the law to honor your father and your mother remember? I don't remember where but I've never forgotten the passage. It says he who does not provide for his family, especially his immediate family has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Who did Jesus mean by hating? What do you mean? It's just what Paul means just what the man in the field you find Jesus to be such a surpassing worth such a a greater treasure that compared to him.
How many heartbreaking stories do we hear coming out of different parts of the world? Where a young man or a young woman sees Christ as right and true and beautiful and wonderful, and they come home and they tell your mother and father I have met Jesus.
He is God. And I follow him now.
And what father or mother says is not in this house.
Choose the family or choose Jesus. And I've heard story after Story they choose Jesus and sometimes it cost them their life.
surpassing worth surpassing treasure
salvation Is a free gift. That cost you everything. you have
how's that possible?
Salvation is a free gift but being saved cost you everything. When you choose Christ you say no to everything else. When you marry your saying one, yes and countless knows. Forsaking all others. It's in the Val. Forsaking all others when we choose Christ, we forsake all others not because it's the right thing to do. Not just because he's true.
Because he's worth he's worth it. He is a treasure that surpasses all else.
Why does it cost you everything? Like why can't why can't you? But why can't you so so so so I'm just going to say so the young woman comes home and says father mother. I have had an encounter with Jesus. He is open my eyes. He is Regal Jesus from the from the New Testament of like the Bible, he's Regal. I've met him and he's real and she is told this Jesus or your family why couldn't she in that case net? Why couldn't she say? Oh, okay, Dad, I choose family and then keep it secret and at 9, you know, maybe political covers over head and pray real soft. I didn't mean it.
White white can't you have Christ in and not forsake everything else. Why? because you can't you can't drag a corpse and hold a baby.
Some of us have yet to experience the amazing unsurpassed fullness of our new life because we're still tracking the old one behind.
2nd Corinthians 5:17. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away behold. The new has come.
You can't embrace the new. drag the old behind
Jesus said Lazarus come forth.
Lazarus is all I can't you just come in here Jesus.
Lazarus
You're Resurrected. Come out of the Tomb. Kind of tied up here Jesus. Can you come why don't you come in here?
That's the game. That we try to play. So we try to do we try to embrace what what seems beneficial to us. While still holding on to everything that we continue to treasure have you heard of cheap Grace or sometimes referred to as a easy believism? Easy believism is is just you know, Sadie's magic words. And then you and you could heaven.
There's no fault or word. dying to yourself forsaking everything else in embracing Christ leaving the old life behind and embracing Christ forgetting what's behind and pressing forward for what's ahead cheap Grace and easy believism. I mean it goes just like this how you know what, you know what people you know, what world hell is real and how was the place of Eternal NeverEnding anguish and torment pain physical pain that you cannot even fathom and it will never end. It will never quit for each ternatea. You'll be burning alive and never dying who wants to go there.
Who wants to not go to there?
Well, if you want to not go there then pray this prayer.
Heaven is not full of people who are terrified by hell heaven is full of people who treasured Christ.
We traded for him and we forsake all outs.
I held the hand and prayed over a dying man who wanted desperately to stay with his wife.
But as much as he loved his wife, who did he Love More? Christ and he called him and he answered.
Are you prepared to leave everything?
for him that's not easy.
But it's what we try. Let me let me know straight that is one more illustration.
Find it inside the parable little creative interpretation here inside the parable. Let's say the man he finds the treasure in the field that he doesn't know and he knows if I own the field I get to have the treasure but this is such a vast treasure. Nobody knows it's here. I'm going to take from the treasure the asking price for the land. I will buy the land with the treasure. Not have to sell anything else and gain the land and the treasure.
I can pray the prayer.
I can gain heaven. I can enjoy the free gift. Keep everything else because Jesus has to forgive me.
the gospel the actual gospel It's not your best life now. It's forsake your life now and gain his life forever.
forever
All we are asked of his is to East is to treasure him. Just a treasure hymn.
Maybe you have ears to hear that this morning. but As I stated from the beginning Jesus does not interpret this Parable for us. Maybe while all that being true that I just shared maybe maybe it's all true. But maybe it wasn't the right interpretation. But maybe there's another interpretation of the parable. So let's go back to it. Matthew 13 verse 44 The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which a man found and covered up then his Joy. He goes and sells all that he has and buys the field. Maybe we aren't the man. In the parable. Maybe the man in the parable. is Jesus
maybe the man in the parable is Jesus and he finds something to Treasure. above everything
about everything
He Treasures what he has found in Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2.
Says looking to Jesus the founder and Perfecter of our faith who for the joy that was set before him. Endured the cross despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the Throne of God.
Jesus finds the perfect will of the father to resurrect the dead Orphans of creation through the death of himself as joy and treasure he finds obedience to his father as a far surpassing worth of a far surpassing worth than staying on his throne where he has been for all of eternity.
He sees that obeying the will of his father. To resurrect you and me is a treasure worth giving up everything for he leaves his throne. He leaves hit hit. He leaves his the alarm goes off in the morning and you're like no day bed is here in bed as wonderful day. Can't you see the bet it's
Okay, and Kim magic, Jesus leaves the Throne of Heaven to come here. How many Millennials would like to snooze? But he comes here because it was a joy for him. the sacrifice everything to obey his father redeem his brothers and sisters so that his father could adopt them as his own. He sells his place in heaven his glory his life his blood and he buys this field.
And on this field he was placed on a cross and in that field he was buried in a tomb and then he comes from the tomb with the buried treasure you and me.
covered unknown worthless, but he knew us Any Douglas up?
You and me. Go back to the house across the street. It would be as though I sold everything and I bought that house and I gained that treasure and with that treasure I paid off all of your mortgages and pay off all of your debts and set you free.
God like that. a God that loving a card that gracious
what would it be worth? to know what God like that What would it be worse to be in an internal relationship with a God Like That? It would be like a man. Who found a treasure in a field and enjoy he goes and sells everything he owned?
the game that treasure
If you get it, you get it. Let's pray.
God help us to get it. We cannot outside of your inside of you Holy Spirit. We can't get it.
Are our minds there to Fallen to get this our desires there to fall in a wretched to get this?
But we can just by force of will. Decide that our treasure is garbage.
We have to be given the ice to see. Is everything around us? It's it's all going to end someday.
The only thing that's not going to end. you in The Souls of men
everything else is going to burn in be remade.
Thank you Jesus for treasuring us enough. Take to give up everything that you had. And father, thank you because of your son's obedience. Thank you for raising him up and giving him the name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every tongue would confess and every need with bow.
Thank you Father. What a what a plan would have with a purpose little will would have would have God you are.
We've been given the ice to see you maybe Treasure You the Way You Are.
You're worth it. I was to see your worth. That's that's it. Show us your worth this morning. That's my prayer. Show us your worth this morning.
Jesus Oh, damn, I left our symbols. Up the price that you paid.
the purchase us
the symbol of your your body
it was broken. pierced in your blood Jesus every drop spilled That's the purchase price.
If we take this meal. We approached this table and take this meal.
May we mean what we say. By what we do. That we are choosing you. We're treasuring you. We see your worth. On display and we choose you. We get up. from where we are leave it behind.
Press on towards you.
Help us to see your work this morning Jesus. What a what a God you are. What a Lord you are. Thank you. Thank you Lord, Jesus in your powerful name. We pray I'm in so the elders would would come forward will have the the elements here and if the Holy Spirit.