Mind Blown

I am doing the message in church today. I was working on it yesterday, and learned something new.

One of the readings for today contains two familiar parables: The Hidden Treasure, and The Pearl of Great Value.

[Jesus said]: “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.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46

I have always understood this to mean our salvation or faith is the treasure, and we must not let something else be more important. We must even be prepared to give away everything for the sake of God. It’s the cost of discipleship.

But I was reading some writings about this, and they pointed out that the one doing the action in all the other parables in Matthew 13 is God. He is the sower and the planter and the net-caster. Shouldn’t God be the one who is doing the action in these two parables as well?

It completely changes the meaning. If God is the one who finds the hidden treasure and the pearl of great value, then what is the treasure and the pearl? Us! Jesus loved us so much, he gave up everything for us. We are more important to God than anything else in the universe.

Now these parables aren’t about how worthy I am to be called a Christian, or if I have the guts to give up everything for God. Instead, they are about God’s incredible, un-sensible, immeasurable love. God loves me!

I will never think about these parables in the same way again. Mind blown.