The Parable of the Hidden Treasure and Priceless Pearl by Greg Byman (Sunday, February 20, 2022)

Sunday, February 20, 2022. Welcome to St Joe Community Church. Today's message is entitled The Parable of the Hidden Treasure and Priceless Pearl and was delivered on Sunday, February 20, 2022 by Greg Byman. For more information visit www.StJoeCommunityChurch.org, click on the Sermons tab, and find today's broadcast. Sermon notes:  Parables of the Hidden Treasure and Priceless Pearl Matthew 13:44-46 February 20, 2022 Have you found the meaning of life? Some aren't searching at all   Some are searching carefully   Some search from time to time     Jesus invites us to search and find the meaning of life -the kingdom of heaven -the King of heaven!   The Hidden Treasure in a Field No ethical problem for the original listeners -burying valuables was common in Jesus's day -Rabbinic law: If a man finds scattered fruit or money it belongs   to the finder. -the treasure didn't belong to the landowner, someone else hid it    -he would never have sold the land if it was his treasure! -the finder buys the land fairly -remember:  always interpret scripture in context!!   "in his joy" -the person found the treasure by circumstances, not by choice -some people find Jesus even when they aren't looking for Him!    -some stumble into the truth about Jesus    -some are trying to disprove Jesus and find Him    -Jesus is hidden beneath the surface of this worldly life -true faith in Jesus Christ gives us joy!    -a joyless church member may not have found Jesus!!   "he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field" -he does not leverage the treasure to get the field -he realizes the treasure is worth more than everything he   already has   The Priceless Pearl "Again" ties the previous parable to this one- two illustration with    the same meaning—helps us interpret them both carefully   "A merchant in search of fine pearls" -Pearls signified wealth- worshipped by Egyptians, Romans   1 Tim 2:9  don't flaunt wealth/pearls -Divers risked their lives to find pearls- dove in tied to rocks,   held their breaths as long as possible to search in darkness -Some people are looking carefully for the true meaning of life   "When he found a priceless pearl" -nothing compares to incomparable value of Jesus Christ! -finding Christ is the beginning of finding everything else   "He went and sold everything he had and bought it" -"I give up all I have and God gives me all He has" J. MacArthur     Conclusion The kingdom of heaven is not immediately seen -some find Jesus without looking for Him -others find Jesus while they are looking for Him     Following Jesus is more valuable than anything else we can possess -Jesus brings up money, not the church!  -modern philosophy says to diversify your investments    -Jesus says: cast all your eternal hope on Him!     We must choose to follow Jesus -Jesus possesses us when we give up possessing anything else -Whatever we worship possesses us!     -are you willing to let Jesus control your possessions?