Extreme Value / Extreme Cost
Welcome to the devotional series, Pondering the Parables, The Podcast Edition, Episode 5, subtitled “Extreme Value / Extreme Cost.” And I am Pastor D-Wach.
We return to our parables devotional series picking up on the of collection of parables recorded for us in chapter 13 of Matthew’s gospel … all of these stories expound on The Kingdom of Heaven … this is obvious, since almost each on starts with “The Kingdom of Heaven is like …”
And we’ll start today by once again commenting on the euphemistic phrase “The Kingdom of Heaven.” To remind everyone, the Bible was written by Jews, and the original audience who listened to Jeshua (Jesus) preach was Jewish. In Judaism, as a symbol of their reverence for G-d’s Holy Name, they would avoid pronouncing it whenever possible. So, in stead of saying “The Kingdom of G-d,” a righteous and pious Jew (as Jeshua surely was), would substitute “Heaven” for “G-d” in this phrase?
Why make a big deal about that? Simple, when we modern Westerners think about The Kingdom of Heaven, we tend to think of some far off future place in the sky, where all is perfect and as it should be with G-d presiding over us. While this is not necessarily a false thought, it kind of removes the possibility of the Kingdom being present here and now on Earth. And I believe that one of the red threads of the Old and New Testament, is that we, through our beliefs and actions, with the power of the Holy Spirit, can create the Kingdom of G-d here on Earth (albeit an imperfect version of it) right now. And using Kingdom of G-d instead of Heaven makes that seem more plausible and achievable.
And that is important as we read these texts … yes, they give us insight into our future eternal state, but it’s a state we can achieve here on earth now. This concept of the here and now, but also the not yet is where our thinking should be focused. These texts help us center on the kind of Godly communities we should be striving to create.
So, before we begin today’s text, let’s review where we have been (given our lengthy pause in pondering the parables). We started the series with Prolegomena, a fancy literary word that refers to the stuff you need to know before you go. As it relates to the parables of Jeshua, we noted several key characteristics of parables in general and that teaching in parables had a long history in Judaism before Yeshua came on the scene. We also noted that while Jesus didn’t invent parables He certainly was the Master at utilizing them.
Our 1st Kingdom parable came from Matthew chapter 20 … the so-called Workers in the Vineyard story. We discerned in that text that the Kingdom of G-d is a place where his grace rules supreme and that His righteousness and justice prevail over and against humanity’s version of righteousness and justice.
We then moved to Matthew chapter 13, which recounts eight “Kingdom of Heaven is like …” similitudes and parables (a similitude being a very short and compact version of a parable). We studied the “Kneading Women” similitude which seems to include a Remez, or a hint, that invites the listener/reader to recount another Biblical text to better understand the teaching. In this case, the companion text comes from Gen. 18, where Abraham and Sarah provide an extravagant feast for three strangers, demonstrating that the Kingdom of G-d is a place where extreme and radical hospitality reigns.
And then we studied the parable of the Mustard Seed (and some related passages that looped mountains into the mustard seed metaphor). We spent time locating this story in the history of Judaism and in the geography of Israel and linking it to a passage from Ezekiel in order to conclude that the Kingdom of G-d is a place where human wisdom and power get thrown on its head and where G-d rules supremely and His love grows like weeds in a garden ( or Kudzu in the South). And those weeds amazingly grow tall as trees and will provide shelter and rest for all who might need it.
And that brings us to today’s text, two back to back similitudes that complement each other while also emphasizing different aspects of the Kingdom. The uninspired headings from the NIV label these parables as The Hidden Treasure and The Pearl.
As I read these familiar texts, I ask you to listen to them as if for the first time, and to think in your mind the first word or thought (or two) that comes to mind. We will see if that matches up with what comes to my mind.
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
What comes to mind for me is three-fold: first, the word “hidden” is utilized twice in the first similitude. And my mind goes back to the parable of the “Kneading Woman” who hid yeast into the three satas of dough. (the NIV inexplicably translates/interprets the Greek word for “hid” as “mix” which shields the possible intended connection. So, there is a hidden aspect of the Kingdom of G-d here on earth. It seems like those of us who are faithful are hidden in the midst of the chaos and misery that surround us. But the Kingdom is here! It is hiding in plain sight if you look for it and pay attention. And when you get a glimpse of it … when you receive an unexpected blessing, or you are used by G-d through the power of the Holy Spirit to be a blessing to someone else or to do a great thing that brings glory to G-d … oh what joy that brings!
And that is the second word that leaps to my spirit: there is JOY in discovering the Kingdom! Think about the moment when you first realized G-d’s presence in your life or the times you have received or bestowed a blessing! There is nothing like the joy of honoring G-d and participating in His Kingdom.
The man found treasure, found the Kingdom, … and he was JOYFUL! And then, he acted … he sold all that he had to buy the field. He literally sold out for the Kingdom … and here I note that he already FOUND the Kingdom … it was his. But his RESPONSE was to sell everything to participate in it.
And that leads to my third thought and the connection to the Pearl similitude. The Kingdom has extreme value. It is worth everything. In this story, the man didn’t stumble upon treasure … he was seeking it and then found it! And like the first man, he sold everything he had to buy it. Again, as a note, I would argue strongly against the notion that these men bought their way into the Kingdom. The act of buying is their response to discovering the Kingdom.
As we close … do you get discouraged and down in the dumps that the Kingdom of Heaven seems far off and not within your grasp? May these stories motivate you to look up and look around! The Kingdom is HERE for the taking! It is hidden before your eyes and will provide extreme joy if you actively grasp it.
But beware … to grasp for it and participate in it will require everything you have … the extreme cost in response to G-d’s blessing and grace. But that’s fitting for the true cost of the Kingdom came at the price of G-d Himself … living, then bleeding then dying for us on a gnarly tree in Jerusalem.
Extreme Value … Extreme Cost … these are some of the attributes of the Kingdom of G-d.
Shalom שָׁלוֹם ,
D-Wach
