St. Matthew 13:44-52
The pearl, the treasure, and the fishing net are remarkable for all that they lead us to ponder. The parables themselves are a bit mysterious because they are symbolic stories that lead us to think of deeper realities. There is always a message behind a parable. The trouble with a parable is, unless Jesus explains it, we are left with perhaps a couple of possibilities as to what is meant. In this case, Jesus asked the disciples if they understood these parables and they said “yes,” which has the unfortunate result that we are left “hanging” and wondering. As we sift out the meaning of these parables we would like to think they are about us. What we have to do in understanding these parables, since Jesus doesn’t explain them, is we must then let Scripture interpret Scripture and the overall proclamation of the scriptures must inform us as to the meaning of these parables. In other words, the thread that runs throughout the entire Bible must be the determining factor as to what Jesus is trying to teach His church. We would like to think that we are the man who finds the treasure in the field, goes, sells all that he has and then buys the field. We would also be inclined to think that we are the merchant who is constantly looking for that one great pearl and, upon finding it, goes and sells all that we have and buys it. What is implied in these parables is that these men gave up their former lives and everything associated with them in order to have the treasure and the pearl. Our thinking would conclude, then, that Jesus is the treasure and the pearl. But, we must remember that the doctrine teaches from the Scriptures that unregenerate man does not look for God. The condemned sinner lives only for himself. A person to even desire God is exhibiting good fruit--it means that Jesus has already come to him. The scriptures teach that the person who stands outside of salvation is spiritually dead, completely unable to find God--dead like a corpse is the imagery used (Colossians 2:13). The scriptures tell us how bad it is for the unbeliever: “There is no one that understands, no one that seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” says St. Paul in Romans 3:11-12. The psalmist echoes St. Paul: “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts”(Psalm 10:4). Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 2:14: “The fool walks in darkness.” The unbeliever cannot see God. God’s salvation is hidden from man until Christ comes with the gospel. As I said, a good case could be made for the thought that you and I are the men who find the treasure and the pearl, but for one small snag: have we given up everything for Christ and the gospel? Because that is what the men do in the parables. Each man sells everything in order to gain what he has found. We might even think we have done just that--except that we still find ourselves struggling on Sunday morning to get up for church in order to receive the very gifts of Christ--the gospel in the word and sacrament. We think we have given up everything for Jesus until we see someone beautiful of the opposite sex that distracts our thoughts and disturbs the intents of the heart. Suddenly, our devotion to Christ is compromised. Perhaps our behavior during the week in dealing with co-workers or family has been less than godly. Then, how is it that we given up everything? We still have sin. Wouldn’t all this this and more have to be given up? If we are honest about our lives, then we must conclude that we cannot be the man who finds the treasure and the pearl and sells everything for that one thing. We just haven’t done it. We are more like the rich young man in St. Matthew’s gospel who thinks we can do it all and then Jesus says to go and sell all that you have, you shall have treasure in heaven, and come follow me(St. Matthew 19:21). Get rid of everything, Jesus is saying, and then you can be my disciple--in other words, take out of your heart every desire that would compromise your faith and devotion to Jesus. If you can’t take all that entices the flesh, then you just haven’t done it. If it all is dependent on our giving up everything, then we are left with the law and ourselves. Rather, we can be certain that Jesus always speaks in order to lead us to the gospel. “God sent His Son into the world not to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved”(St. John 3:17). The gospel is such that as Jesus declares: “The Son of man has come to save that which was lost”(St. Matthew 18:11). For such a wonderful treasure and a pearl of such great worth to be found must mean that they had been misplaced or lost. The world was lost. It must follow, therefore, that Jesus is the man who finds something precious that had been lost so long ago, and that treasure and pearl is of such great worth that He (Jesus) goes and sells all that He has and comes back to it. Jesus redeems the heavenly Father’s creation and gives up His entire being--the King of Kings and Lord of Lords gives up His kingship and takes the form of a servant--selling all that He has, if you will--to buy not just the treasure but the entire field. Jesus buys the field with His own blood. Jesus redeems creation and restores it because it is precious in His Father’s sight. We are the treasure; we are the pearl. We are the fish in the dragnet that are saved. We are so precious that Jesus humbles Himself to be born of a virgin. He takes on the form of a slave and a servant, in order to be rejected by men when He should rightly be glorified by men. Instead Jesus is crucified. It is in Christ’s crucifixion that Jesus buys the field with the treasure in it. He buys you and me and all the world and in the end the elect shall be gathered into vessels to be preserved and saved for eternal life. This gospel reminds us that Christ’s church is precious in His sight. We are so valuable and loved that Jesus would cloak His Godhead under flesh. We were there in the field, sitting there waiting to be found and saved, half-buried in the dirt and the mud, life-less and dead, and our Lord comes to make us His and to protect us. Jesus finds us in much the same way that the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts is found by Jesus through the preaching of Philip. In this way, the gospel is preserved, because Jesus is the doer and you are those who receive forgiveness for your sins, and are the blessed recipients of His love and goodness. You are the ones who are lifted up and valued greatly. Pontius Pilate did not know what he was saying when he took Jesus out to be handed over and said: “Behold, the man”(St. John 19:5). Our Lord and King is “the man” who came into the field and into the marketplace in order to find and ransom His precious saints. It is Jesus who treasures His bride, the church. Amen. -- Rev. Chad Kendall Trinity Lutheran Church Lowell, Indiana www.trinitylowell.org http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=243282012833
