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NASB | Matthew 13:44 ¶ "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 13:44 ¶ "The kingdom of heaven is like a [very precious] treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again; then in his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field [securing the treasure for himself]. |
Bible Question:
What is the treasure and who is the man? if the treasure is the Kingdom of Heaven (is it?), can we say the man who sacrifices everything is our Lord rather than we? The reason I am thinking that way is we didn't pay anything but faith and confession to enter the Kingdom, but the Lord did. For example, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1 ESV). We just go and receive the Kingdom as a gift of grace. No "work" of "price" of our own is involved for us to be a citizen of the Kingdom. |
Bible Answer: Dear 000123, The phrase "Kingdom of heaven" appears exclusively in Matthew's Gospel. Remember that Matthew was particularly addressing Jews. The phrase was one particularly familiar to the Jew, looking to the promised coming of Messiah (the Anointed One), the Son of Man (John 5:27). viz. "I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a Kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His Kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed." (Daniel 7:13-14 NASB) This is the central point of Christ's teaching. I rather like Graeme Goldworthy's defintion of the Kingdom as "God's people in God's place under God's rule." Anthony Hoekema provides a bit more technical definition: "The reign of God dynamically active in human history through Jesus Christ, the purpose of which is the redemption of His people from sin and from demonic powers, and the final establishment of the new heavens and the new earth." Note that the "Kingdom of heaven" and "Kingdom of God" are phrases that refer to the same thing (cf Matthew 5:3 and Luke 6:20). Our Lord Jesus uses several similes to describe the Kingdom and those who inherit it. The parabolic simile that you cited (Matthew 13:44) is within the context of the whole chapter. (Remember always study things in context. See rule #2 in post #156918.) It is clear from that context that the fruitful soil (v23), the wheat (vv30, 38), the man sowing (v31), the woman baking (v33), the treasure finder (v44), the merchant (v45), the good fish (v48) are the children of the Kingdom; i.e., those who are His elect (John 3:5-7). Now, concerning your statement, "we didn't pay anything but faith and confession to enter the Kingdom" (sic) We didn't even pay those things! Our faith is given us by God (John 1:12-13; Romans 12:3b), and our confession arises out of our heart (Luke 6:45; 1 John 4:2-3). When Isaiah refers to the poor in spirit as he who "has no money" he means just that. Salvation is a gift not a wage (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8). The only merit we have, is the meriting of eternal death (Romans 3:10-18). In Him, Doc PS For a set of principles for sound exegesis of parables, see post #157835. |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Matt 13:44 | Author | ||
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Mommapbs | ||
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Tamara Brewington | ||
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00123 | ||
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DocTrinsograce | ||
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Makarios | ||
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stjohn |