The Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

[HKHaugan]

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

 These two parables appear to be similar in idea but are told separately for a purpose. First of all, these parables are about spirituality, relationship and God’s heart, all of which are ‘hidden’ from our eyes. They’re invisible. Secondly, they depend on revelation from outside of us, an awakening that causes an insight. It is our aloneness that calls for a relational hope. Thirdly, their effect is on our heart and its response. That is, what we do with the inner impact they make. Of course, the mind takes it in, ponders it but then gives it to the heart for a decision.

 “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 it (Mt.13:34).”

 The field is the spiritual dimension behind the world we live in, the reality we can’t physically see but know in the heart. It’s the world we live in. The ‘world’ is the invisible atmosphere of secular standards and social pressures that surround us wherever we are from one day to the next. It’s the awakening to the fact that where we are spiritually in this invisible environment determines the way we live and where we are going. It can be seen and navigated only with the spiritual eyes of belief, trust and faith. The purpose of this parable is to see that the Kingdom is an eternal relational experience, a treasure that every heart seeks. When we find it we ponder it, check to see if it’s really true, test it, all of which are a ‘hidden’ process, an unseen but real process.

 Jacob’s wrestling with the angel is a good example. Think of his journey when he knew he’d have to make up with his brother Esau whom he thought would probably kill him only to find he came to embrace him as a long-lost brother. The joy Jacob felt when they both found what they had lost. The Kingdom of God is hidden in the world until we recognize He came in the flesh. What did we do when we discovered that truth? We gave up all the worldly goals we had. We went into the Word, sought out those who knew the treasure and finding them, joined them and put our ‘fields’ together with them and the Kingdom grew.

 Then the Parable of the Pearl, “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. (Mt.13:45-46).” While the point is similar to the former parable, Jesus is pushing the idea of relational value here. The merchant was initially looking for a plural number of pearls but found one that was outstanding, dropped looking for the others, sold all he had and bought it.

 There are a lot of ‘pearls’ around us. Nature, professions, philosophies for the mind, science, fame, emotional highs, admired people, travel, sports, entertainment, hobbies, ideas and programs about which we are passionate. When you boil it all down, it is the relational pearls that impact us most. And one in particular, the one with the Lord God, is the ultimately valuable one. It is eternal and makes eternity a present reality. And further, the Lord gives them meaning and puts them in balance, in spiritual context.  

 After the parables of the Sower and the Weeds, these two parables simply place the onus on us to see where our hearts are and how they are calling us to consider Him who is their author. It is the One telling the parables whose insights, wisdom and teaching come from the Person of persons, God Himself.

 Here Jesus zeros in on a relationship with Him as the ultimate pearl. His Cross is in each. We have to place our minds and hearts in the light of its vertical beam (not my will but Yours be done) and apply its effect to our horizontal experience (place Him first in everything). That’s how we take up ours.