Sermon for Sunday, Apr 26th, 2026 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC)
Old Testament Reading:
[Proverbs 2:1-5 ESV] 1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
New Testament Reading:
[Philippians 3:1-11 ESV] 1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh– 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith– 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Gospel Reading:
[Luke 18:18-30 ESV] 18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.'” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Sermon Text:
[Matthew 13:44-46 ESV] 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Introduction
You’ve got to love a good hidden treasure story.
In recent months my family and I have been watching old pirate movies. (Not pirated, but Pirate!). And to have a pirate movie you have to have pirates of course, and a ship, and a deserted island. But none of it would make a story without a hidden treasure.
In the world made most of dirt, sticks, and “boring” rocks, the treasure of gold, silver, rubies, and diamonds is of great excitement and brings much wealth. It is simple Economic Theory really – an item that is scarce and in demand will be of great value.
People will spend their whole life looking for treasure.
Some seek it through business dealings.
Others literally are digging for it, or using submersible to scour the ocean for shipwrecks with sunken treasure.
Today’s “treasure” or hope for riches is often the Lottery. It might be fund to think about what you’d do with the winnings, but quickly you’ll likely realize that it could be a lot of trouble.
Well, whatever is considered treasure, none compare with the Superior Treasure that is the Kingdom of Heaven.
No dollar amount is going to give you eternal life.
No number of jewels and no weight of gold is going to forgive your sins.
All that which is TRULY superior is to be had only through Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.
So we have that focus today: The superior kingdom.
And its a continuation of this section in Matthew’s Gospel on the Kingdom Parables, where we learn about the Kingdom of Heaven.
We’ve learned so far of the Kingdom of Heaven that is it is growing, that it is here even now, and that it includes many. Now we learn that the Kingdom of Heaven is superior.
I. The Kingdom of Heaven is Superior
And we’ll see that here with two related parables.
A. Two Related Parables
There are two related parables here regarding the Superior Kingdom; the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Parable of the Pearl of Great Value. Notably, they are only in Matthew’s Gospel. And, like the Parables of the Mustard Seed and of the Leaven, there is no explanation in the text. Jesus yet asks his disciples “Have you understood all these things?” and they say “Yes.” So either he did give an explanation, or perhaps more likely, the parables are so clear that an explanation is not needed. So these parables at least don’t “conceal” truth, but only reveal it.
And there is one simple truth which these two parables proclaim: Heaven is the Superior Kingdom.
It is superior to all other kingdoms.
And it is superior to all other things.
1. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
The parable of the hidden treasure is given in just one verse:
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Simply, the Kingdom of Heaven is a great thing!
It is like a treasure that is found.
That is an analogy of the joy that a Christian has when they come into the Kingdom of Heaven; when the Lord works faith in their life, and they are reborn to a new life in Christ; our joy is LIKE the man who finds a treasure in his field.
But while it is LIKE finding a treasure, I would submit that it is EVEN BETTER than that.
Nothing can truly compare to Christ.
What does the song say?: Nothing I desire compares with you.
Nothing matches up. Only such a thing as “finding treasure” can give us point of comparison, even if insufficient.
What a great thing to think about. YOU have something better than finding treasure or winning the lottery. You have new life in Jesus Christ. WOW. YOU (and I) are greatly blessed.
The man who found the hidden treasure then acts “in joy.”
We ought to as well; live in joy constantly and forever knowing the great gift of salvation we have in Christ.
In England today there are rules that treasure is not kept by the discover but must be sold to the museum. Maybe you get half. But in Israel in the ancient times, the treasure was yours. Not that finding a treasure was a common thing. Indeed, it is from the uncommonness of it, that it is a treasure. If everyone found a treasure everyday – if you fields were full of treasure chests and gold bars – at some point they’d become a nuisance, preventing us from growing crops.
2. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value
Then we have a second parable. Only two verses long. And similar in meaning. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value.
You might be familiar with the phrase “the pearl of great PRICE.” That is how the King James translates it. The Greek is “polytimos” (pol-oot-ee-mos) and can be translated with great price or great value.
Incidentally the Mormons have a whole book they’ve named “The Pearl of Great Price” having taken that time from this parable. It is a collection of writings, much of it not in line with BIBLICAL Christianity. So there is an irony in it being called “The Pearl of Great Price” when it is something entirely opposite; something that can only draw one away from the Gospel, and has no value whatsoever.
What the BIBLE is talking about in the parable of the Pearl of Great Price is not a book or anything of this world, but the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; and its superiority.
Just as a person would be elated to find treasure, so they are thrilled to discover an impressive pearl.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
So these parables function to support one another, and make clear the point: the Kingdom of Heaven is the Superior Kingdom. Superior to all worldly kingdom, and movements, and goals, and desires of men.
There is ONE difference between the parables. A commentary notes that while in each parable the “surpassing value of the treasure is alike recognized,” the treasure in the field is found by accident and the pearl is found by one whose business it is to seek for such. Perhaps the commentator makes too much of the difference; it is possible that the man finding treasure in the field was looking for it; we don’t know. But the one who finds the pearl definitely was working for it.
And I’m not sure where one would go theological with that difference, because it is NOT the case that some are seeking God. In fact, the Scriptures tell us otherwise: Romans 3:11 says “no one seeks God.”
So we should primarily if not exclusively consider these two parables as supportive of the one central idea: The Kingdom of Heaven is Superior.
B. Proverbs
This is an idea that is not first presented in Matthew. There are a number of proverbs that speak of this Superior treasure which is the Lord.
[Proverbs 2:1-5 ESV] 1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
[Proverbs 3:13-15 ESV] 13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, 14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
[Proverbs 8:18-20 ESV] 18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. 19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. 20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice,
These all teach the Superior of the Kingdom over riches. What is the Kingdom? It is “the knowledge of God,” “wisdom,” being “with God.” All of things go together. Those who are in the Kingdom of God are those who know the Lord.
Now, we’ve been looking at the Superiority of the Kingdom. And here it is important to note that not only is the Kingdom of Heaven superior, the Kingdom of Heaven is INFINITELY superior to all others because all other things shall amount to nothing, while the Lord and His Kingdom is eternal. So it’s note twice as good, or five times better, but the Kingdom of Heaven is infinitely superior.
That is why, as we have as our second point, “The Kingdom of Heaven Ought to be Pursued.”
II. The Kingdom of Heaven Ought to be Pursued
Matthew Henry: Here are two parables intended to show that those who expect salvation by the gospel must be willing to venture all, and quit all, in the prospect of it, and that they shall be no losers by the bargain.
It is comparable to the scripture that says “Seek yet first the Kingdom of God.”
And the scripture that says “sell everything and follow me.”
So superior in value is the Kingdom of Heaven that all else must be sidelined.
The Kingdom of Heaven is to be prioritized even over “father and mother, children, brothers, sisters, and even one’s own life.” (as Jesus says in Luke 14:6)
The man in the parable “goes and sells ALL that he has and buys that field (where the treasure lies).”
And the man in the parables “went and sold ALL that he had and bought [the Pearl of great value].”
Nothing is comparable, so ALL must give way to the inestimable eternal value of the superior Kingdom of Heaven.
Another related text is:
[Matthew 16:26 ESV] 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
There are people who center their lives around a sports team. That is their kingdom.
There are people – and I knew one back in Texas – whose kingdom is the Marines.
Your Kingdom is that which you prioritize.
Ultimately, the sin is to make your own kingdom. It is an error to see yourself at the center. We ought to see God at the center.
Therefore, we should want to live in the Kingdom of Heaven.
And we should drop everything else to seek first the Kingdom of God.
[Matthew 6:21 ESV] 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Have you found that treasure?
If so, have you prioritized the Kingdom of God above all else?
In the Parable, that is the reaction.
If there is a treasure, you go for it.
And the Bible tells us there is a treasure – Jesus Christ, and the Gospel of Salvation in Him. So … embrace it, rest and receive it. Pray for faith to change your life. And seek first the kingdom of God.
We were watching “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” yesterday. And in the movie there is a girl who is the daughter of rich parents. And if she sees something, she wants it. But then going on to the next thing. And wants that. And wants another thing. Nothing will satisfy her. And nothing will satisfy us, but the Kingdom of Heaven. That is what we are to seek.
Application: Living in the Kingdom of Heaven is joyful.
The man who sells everything does so “in his joy” (Matt 13:44), emphasizing the Kingdom of Heaven miserable duty but a joyful trade-off, losing the world to gain Christ.
In asking you to seek the Kingdom of Heaven, I am not asking you to do something that is bad for you, but something that is the ultimate and superior good; the very best thing.
Application: Much must be given up.
What is given up to buy the treasure? Whatever it takes! Parables don’t always give us the full answer, but we can understanding that much has to be given up; everything else if necessary.
Application: Kingdom of Heaven is not found by human effort, but is from God.
If we say the treasure and the pearl are found by the person, are we given them credit? No, the one is possibly found on accident – when they weren’t even looking – and the other (the pearl) was found only by God’s work in them. This doesn’t deny the point that we ought to seek the kingdom, but it adds to it that success if only by the will and power of God. But praise be to God, for HE works in us to will and to do for his good pleasure; he works in us faith and GIVES us that great treasure that we cannot earn or find of ourselves.
Conclusion:
Ultimately, you can see that the treasure itself is what changes the person. Knowing that there is a treasure is what makes the person give up everything else. They don’t give up everything to go on a hunt; they give up everything when the treasure is known. So it is that God works in us a profound change.
And we are called to that change. The treasure is there; the treasure is HERE, even know. The Superior Kingdom of Heaven is ours. Embrace it, all your days.
Let us pray.