The treasure hid in a field

Last night, I dreamed about the parable of the hidden treasure. I woke up thinking especially about the man's joy. Jesus said, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”​

Our forefathers seem almost universally agreed that the treasure here represents Jesus Himself. Though the parable is a parable of the kingdom, it is important to remember that the heart, the glory, and the joy of the kingdom is the King Himself. It is as men and women put their trust specifically in Him that the kingdom advances. As Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Rather, it is a kingdom marked by the progress and power of the Spirit as He makes men and women “willing in the day of His power.” This is not a kingdom advanced by the might or wisdom of men. Rather, as the gospel is proclaimed, the Spirit gives life to the dead. Men and women are born again; and as a result, their hearts begin to beat for Him, their wills are conformed to His, and their minds are made to see and understand, specifically, the majesty and wonder of the gospel of the glory of Christ.​

So here is a man who has found a treasure. And what does he do? For joy, he sells all that he has and buys the field. What's the point of the parable? The treasure is Jesus, and the man who found the treasure and bought the field represents the born-again believer. This parable is not an imperative, and it's a mistake to treat it as if it were. Jesus is not here describing what must be done. Rather, He is simply explaining what happens when a man or woman discovers Jesus. There is nothing here of pharisaical legalism or self-righteousness. The man's decision to sell what he has is not a slavish one made out of a sense of mere duty or fear. In fact, the opposite is true. He went for joy to do what was to him the most obvious and natural thing. He had found a treasure worth abundantly more than all he had. Here was a treasure worth more than worlds. And so, realizing what he had found, understanding its worth, he went out and did the most sensible thing he could. No one had to tell him to do it. He did it gladly. He sold what he had so that he could have enough to buy the field and get the treasure. Some, not understanding what he had discovered, might have thought him mad for selling everything, but he knew full well what he was doing. This was a good bargain! He might be losing everything else, but he knew what he was gaining in return was better than life itself.​

The message of the parable is a simple one, but it is one that makes sense only to those in whom God has given “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Paul speaks of counting all things "but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord." The Bible testifies of One who is Wonderful, who is our exceeding joy and our exceeding great reward. He - and no other - is the treasure hidden in the field. He - and no other - is the pearl of great price. Jesus is without peer. He is utterly matchless. He is worth more than worlds. And any man discovering Him would do just as this man did. In other words, he would do whatever it took to get the treasure, and he would do it for joy. But the kingdom of God is so unlike the kingdoms of this world. You cannot get men to do what this man did here. Out of a sense of duty or fear or religious zeal, men will do a great many things, but you cannot make a man see what this man saw.​

I wonder if you see the difference. So much of religion is about duty and obedience. But it's done without joy and delight and wonder. It is called love, but it is love stripped of any real meaning. It is love without affection. There is nothing heartfelt about it. Love is equated with obedience, as if doing a thing for a spouse is the same as loving her. Biblically speaking, it is love for God that constrains true and godly obedience.​

God is concerned not merely with what we do but why we do it. The trouble is, you can condition a man - or even compel him - to do certain things, but only God can change the why. Only God can take a man who is enthralled with the things of this world and make him enthralled instead with Jesus. Only God can make a rebel into a willing servant. Only God can take a man who finds the law grievous and make it his delight. Only God can make a man trade the whole world for Jesus - and do it for joy. Whereas religion is about duty and obedience, Christianity is about the glory of Jesus Christ. When men and women discover Him, everything changes. But this discovery is not merely an intellectual one. Rather, it is a discovery made by the Spirit. It is when God shines in the heart to give us the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ that we have found the treasure hidden in the field.​

So this parable is saying something rather radical about the nature of Christianity. These aren't things that can be imparted head to head. These are not things that can be learned in books or taught in school. This is not a system that someone can simply take up. We can tell men about Jesus, but until their eyes and hearts are opened to see what this man saw, until God shines in their hearts, until they are born again, they will never do what this man did. And remember, the key here is the joy. I imagine him, like my parents used to say, “laughing all the way to the bank.” He has nothing left, but he has Jesus. And oh, how rich he is! How glad he is! When you read this parable, do you picture a man with head bowed and shoulders drooped, doing the hard thing he knows he must do? That's not how I picture it. No, he did it for joy. Oh, what joy was his! What a blessed man he was! “What, me?! Can this treasure really be mine? Can this Jesus really be mine?!”​

It is this that explains the life of a Christian. He has his ups and downs. He is at times a bundle of contradictions. But he has found a treasure. And whatever others may say, he knows - he understands - something of the worth of what he has discovered. How can he possibly describe what he has found? This is Jesus, the Lord of glory. This is the altogether lovely One, the apple of his eye, and that friend that sticks closer than a brother. This is his portion, his Sun and Shield, his Shepherd, his Saviour, his Lord and his King. The truth is, we (who know Him) cannot convey with words what we have tasted and seen. We know simply that we love Him because He first loved us, and now our hearts beat for Him. He is everything. And the wonder of this life is that He is with us always - even to the end of the age.  Better still, one day, having left this world, we will appear with Him - with our beloved Jesus! - in glory.​

In a recent post I wrote of my hospitalization and improved health.  Since then I've experienced some additional health challenges, and the road ahead remains uncertain.  But what has comforted me more than anything else is the knowledge that I am His, and He is mine - "not for the years of time alone, but for eternity."   I have Jesus.  Other things may be taken from me, but not Him.  He has said, "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." 

William Plumer said, "He has the arm of a God, and the heart of a brother... None loves like him​, none pities like him, none saves like him.  It is not surprising that such a person lives and reigns in the hearts of his people. No marvel that the virgins love him, and the saints praise him, and the martyrs die for him, and the confessors are not ashamed of him, and the sorrowing sigh for him, and the penitent lie at his cross and pour out their tears before him, and the humble trust him, and the believing lay fast hold of him and will not let him go.  His frown shakes the frame of universal nature, his smile gives life, his presence converts dungeons into palaces, his blood cleanses from all sin, his righteousness is the white robe of the redeemed."