Bring out your Treasure

Since we've built the Hubble telescope, we've looked into the heavens.

He's not there.

Where is he?

We've looked at the atomic level.

He's not there.

Most of our society in Australia have concluded God isn't there.

He's just not obvious.

I'm so confident of this.

People don't think there's some grand meaning and purpose to life.

You can create your own meaning.

And who are you to tell me that my meaning is wrong?

Now, we Christians, apart from appealing to nature going,

yeah, the images that came back from the Hubble telescope just blew our minds.

There's the glory there.

How can you not see that?

The atomic level, there's glory.

There's more there than we even realise.

Apart from appealing to that, we say God did show up.

Jesus, God's son, came in the flesh, in real time and space.

We have his words written for us.

He did things that only God could do.

He came back from the dead.

God has revealed himself clearly in his son, Jesus.

But then, even Jesus' contemporaries, who themselves were waiting for the Messiah, God's kingdom,

they were the ones who were crying out, crucify him.

Crucify him.

He didn't restore Israel's freedom and prosperity.

He didn't make Jerusalem the political capital of the world.

He didn't make Jerusalem the world.

He didn't make Jerusalem the world.

Crucified Messiah.

Where's the glory in that?

The glory doesn't seem obvious either back then or today.

Even as Christians, we can struggle with doubt because of the lack of this obvious glory.

Can the church and the gospel really be the most significant thing about life

when so few people in our society cherish it?

Doesn't that just nag at you sometimes?

Is this really the most significant thing?

I keep struggling with my sin.

If Jesus is ruling my life now, why don't I have that full glory yet?

Why not devote myself and my life to things that are obviously glorious,

like my career and relationships and pleasure and prosperity and so on?

Even as Christians, we can struggle with this sense of lack of glory.

And this is where our mini-series in the parables in chapter 13,

Jesus has told us the secrets of the kingdom of heaven to help us with this.

That before the kingdom comes in full and obvious and gloriously for all to see,

it has come secretly.

It is hidden.

It has come through the word of the gospel about Jesus, what he has done, who he is.

But like the parables of the soils we've heard, many will reject this word.

But there will be a fruitful harvest with birds of the air from all over the world

coming to rest in this kingdom's shade.

For those with eyes to see, Jesus' death is like that small mustard seed

that from that death produces this kingdom.

Reconciled to God the Father, people from all over the world, anyone who believes,

the kingdom has come.

It's just come hidden, secret, through the word of Jesus,

starting from the inside, working in the hearts of people.

That's where you'll find it.

So, this morning, we have two final parables.

Jesus finishes this block of teaching with this first parable,

which is going to answer this question, I think.

Why do people need to find the kingdom now when it's still hidden?

If it's so hidden, why do people need to find it?

I think the second parable is going to answer this question.

How will people see and hear this hidden kingdom?

Okay, so let's get into these parables.

So first, why do people need to find this hidden kingdom now?

The answer, because the net is coming.

One day, the kingdom will come very observably,

as people claim that they want.

It will be plain for all to see, but in that day, it will be too late.

It is a terrifying day.

A simple fishing story carries the weight of the eternal destiny

of yourself and everyone you know.

Jesus says,

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea

and gathered fish of every kind.

When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good

into containers but threw away the bad.

The net isn't about the church going about the missionary Great Commission.

We're given the explanation.

So it will be at the end of the age.

This is a picture at the end of history as we know it.

So the parable of the wheat and the weeds with things being mixed now.

There's those who believe, those who don't.

But Christ's priority was his wheat.

So the focus was on things being mixed now,

whereas this parable seems to focus just on the end of time.

And the point is clear and obvious, isn't it?

Marie's already brought it out in the kids' talk.

Kids can understand this.

A great sorting will occur.

Don't confuse the hiddenness now for the fact that it will be obvious one day

and a sorting will occur.

So this image.

Please don't picture this little handheld fishing net.

That's not what it's talking about.

This is a huge drag net that would be attached to either two boats

and just sweep whatever comes between the two boats

or it would be attached to the shore

and attached to a boat that just sweeps the whole area.

So none of this punzi handheld thing.

This is a huge net.

And the fish in its path can do nothing to avoid it.

Like I'm picturing little Nemo swimming

with this net going to the bottom of the ocean floor

to the rim of the surface.

And you can't go under it.

You can't go over it.

You will not go through it.

Everyone will be caught in it.

You can't avoid it.

Your neighbour can't avoid it.

Fish of every kind will be caught.

Now that might be suggesting every kind is in every culture,

people all over the world.

Maybe it's just saying every kind is in those good, those bad.

Everyone will be caught up.

Once it's full,

once everyone, those alive and those in their graves coming out,

not even death will hide you from this net.

You'll be brought ashore for sorting.

There's a very clear point.

The kingdom will come obviously one day.

It will come obviously.

And a great sorting will take place.

It is unavoidable.

And there's only two groups, two outcomes,

the righteous and the wicked,

those kept,

those thrown in the fiery furnace.

So the question I've been wrestling with is,

what does this parable add?

That the parable of the wheat and the weeds,

it talked about the weeds being burnt up in the fiery furnace.

It's exactly the same phrase.

And the wheat gathered into the barn,

shining like the sun.

Now maybe this picture,

this water picture,

complements the agricultural picture.

Maybe.

Maybe it's a reminder.

I think there's more to it.

I think there's two details that add a new emphasis.

Not necessarily anything new,

but a new emphasis.

Notice that the focus here is on what happens to the evil.

Parable, we only get shown the negative outcome.

In verses 49 and 50,

it's the fiery furnace where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

So it doesn't talk about heaven.

Now the parable shouldn't be pushed too far.

This is an important point with interpreting parables.

It usually only has one main point.

Otherwise, the good fish are kept for eating.

That's not what it's saying.

And it's a bit odd,

picturing fish sitting around the great heavenly banquet.

So let's not push this parable too far.

The focus is on what happens to the evil.

The other detail that helps us understand this,

I think, is how it starts.

Notice in verse 47.

Again.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like.

In verse 45, last week,

we very easily accepted the again.

Combining those two parables about

the treasure hidden in the field,

and again,

the kingdom of heaven is like a great pearl.

But here we have another again.

Which probably shows that we

stuffed up how we broke up this passage.

But,

these three parables seem to be linked.

The net seems to be the negative side

to the positive appeal of

find the treasure,

find the pearl,

otherwise the net.

There's those who,

in this life,

find Jesus

and the treasure

of living under his good rule.

Who,

who,

who,

who sacrifice everything under his feet.

And don't count it as loss,

but gain.

There's those.

But if,

those who fail to find that,

fail to,

see Jesus as worthy

of your life,

treat him as insignificant,

well,

there's only a terrible outcome.

An unavoidable outcome.

I think these three parables

paint a picture of what Jesus

has already said

in chapter 10,

verse 39.

Whoever finds his life here,

will lose it.

But whoever loses his life

for my sake,

will find it.

Now,

I don't think this is trying

to scare you

into becoming a Christian.

I think it's a very good thing

that God hates evil.

And he's going to do

something about it.

How awful a God

would be

if he didn't care

about evil.

That is a terrifying thought.

It is a good thing

that God hates evil

and that he's going to do

something about it.

The terrifying thing is

if you're someone

who does that evil,

standing before such a God,

which is all of us,

isn't it?

Jesus is loving us

by warning you

of what will occur

if you reject

eternal life.

God hates evil.

Now,

I heard someone

the other day

dismiss

the resurrection

saying,

yeah,

I don't really

believe all those stories

about people

seeing a great light

when they're on

the operating table,

those kind of things.

The person saying this

isn't one of those people

who saw a light.

The person saying this

is the one

who rose from the dead.

He has authority

over death.

He has tasted hell

on the cross.

He knows the fiery furnace.

The son of God

sweated drops of blood

anticipating what he was

about to endure.

over.

He went to the cross

feeling the full force

of God's anger

so that you and I

would escape

this fiery furnace.

He has displayed

his love

so incredibly,

sacrificing his son

to give you

eternal life.

If you reject that,

you reject that love.

You will only face

God's anger.

The weeping

pictures the suffering.

The gnashing of teeth

pictures despair

in that place.

And what's scary

in these images

is that they're images,

they're metaphors.

Heaven for the righteous

is described as a banquet

as I referred to earlier.

But that's just using

imagery so that we can

understand it.

It's better than a banquet.

It's still a picture.

So too with these

descriptions.

It's just a picture

of the awfulness.

Come to Jesus now.

You will find

full forgiveness.

He wants you

to find him

his treasure.

He doesn't want you

in the fiery furnace.

He takes no delight

in the death

of the wicked.

No delight whatsoever.

Come to him.

You will find forgiveness.

You will find

a treasure

better than anything

else you know in life.

Come before

that net arrives.

Find God's love

before you face

God's anger.

treasure.

It's hard to be sure

whether Jesus

is speaking

these parables

to the crowd

still or just

his disciples.

I'm not sure

we can be certain

on that.

But the implication

for us

who have already

found this treasure

shouldn't it fill us

with thankfulness?

That awful

fiery furnace,

I should have been

that bad fish

thrown away.

But he was

thrown away

so that I'm

gathered in.

It should fill us

with incredible

thankfulness.

And there is

zero,

zero room

for pride

in the Christian

life that I

believed while

others didn't.

There's no room

for that.

He gave us

the secrets

of the kingdom.

There is no room

for pride.

I don't have

to fear,

if you've found

Jesus,

you do not have

to fear

this final sorting.

You're one

of the righteous,

I'm one of the

righteous,

not because of

us of course,

but because

his death

washes us

and his righteousness

is counted to us.

We don't have to

fear this

for our sake,

but we should

fear it

for others'

sake.

that treasure

we talk about,

that is not

for us to keep.

We need to feel

the urgency,

the seriousness

of what's coming.

That treasure,

we're meant to

bring it out

so that others

see it,

hear it,

before the net

comes.

Share your

treasure with

whoever will

take it.

And I don't

think it's easy

to believe this

because there's

going to be

family members

who don't believe

and that is

just agony.

It's like

the Apostle

Paul.

He wished

he himself

could be

cut off

just so his

own people

could be

brought into

Christ.

To believe

this net

is coming

is actually

a painful

path.

But we need

to see people

with the

seriousness of

who they

are and

these outcomes.

I'm going

to quote

C.S.

Lewis because

I think he

just paints

a picture of

how serious

our interactions

with each

other are.

Let me

quote C.S.

Lewis.

The load

or weight

or burden

of my

neighbour's

glory

should be

laid daily

on my

back,

a load

so heavy

that only

humility

can carry

it and

the backs

of the

proud

will be

broken.

It is

a serious

thing to

live in

a society

of possible

gods and

goddesses

to remember

that the

dullest,

most

uninteresting

person you

talk to

may one

day be a

creature

which if

you saw

it now

you would

be strongly

tempted to

worship

or else

a horror,

a corruption

such as you

now meet

if at all

only in a

nightmare.

All day

long in

some degree

we are

helping each

other to

one or

other of

these

destinations.

It is in

the light of

these overwhelming

possibilities,

it is with

the awe

proper to

them that

we should

conduct all

our dealings

with one

another,

all friendships,

all loves,

all play,

all politics.

There are no

ordinary people.

You have never

talked to a

mere mortal.

Nations,

cultures,

arts,

civilisation,

these are

mortal.

Their life

is the

ours like

the life

of a

gnat,

but it

is

immortals

whom we

joke with,

work with,

marry,

snub,

exploit,

immortal

horrors or

everlasting

splendours.

So how

are you

helping people

prepare for

this net?

Interest

rates,

costs of

living are

rising.

What

expenses

are you

going to

cut back

on?

Missionary

support?

How could

you connect

your

Christian

and

non-Christian

friends?

Make them

rub shoulders.

Obviously we

can take those

fleeting

opportunities,

like I

think I

wait too

much to

go,

oh,

I'm

going to

wait for

the right

moment to

have that

conversation.

Sometimes we

just need to

jump in,

that quick

phrase.

We don't

have to

give two

ways to

live,

track through

the whole

time,

just a

quick

phrase.

I think

admitting our

own sin is

absolutely

crucial.

Otherwise people

will think

we're saying

I'm confident,

I'm proud in

my own efforts.

You've got to

admit your

sin for people

to understand

Jesus.

And I

wonder when

we complain

and when we

defend our

reputations and

we're consumed

with our

personal interests,

how can

people see

the treasure

when we're

doing that?

When we're

clinging to

the same

fleeting things

that everyone

else does,

how can people

see the

treasure when

we do

that?

Or to put

it positively,

there's great

opportunity,

in hardship.

When health

is failing,

when you

are wrong,

you are

treated unfairly,

unjustly,

there are

actually opportunities

to show the

treasure I

reckon.

Because that's

when the

surface stuff

is stripped

away.

And if you

still have

joy,

people might

go,

how on earth

do you still

have joy in

that time?

time.

I heard a

story of a

Christian boss

whose employee

made a

mistake that

cost the

company a lot

of money.

And he had

to go into

his superiors

and incredibly,

he took the

blame for it.

Now, this

employee was

amazed.

She had

plenty of

bosses who

had taken the

credit for her

work, but this

boss took

the blame.

He could

have just

thrown her

under the

bus, she

probably would

have been

fired, but

this boss took

the blame for

it.

And that

just shocked

her.

She went to

him and she

kept pressing

him like,

why did you

do that?

That is so

odd.

And eventually

he gave in and

he told her,

because of

Jesus, because

he took the

blame for me.

And that was

the start of

her finding

Jesus.

Those

hardships, I

think it's

just a little

nice picture,

those everyday

hardships are

actually opportunities

to show our

treasure.

So the net is

coming, it is

unavoidable.

Jesus, the

judge, is

bringing it, but

he wants people

to find the

treasure now.

So let's do

whatever we can

to bring it

out for people.

So Jesus

finishes this

block of

teaching with

one final

parable.

This time

it's directed

just for the

disciples.

So we've

heard why

people need to

find this

hidden treasure,

because the

net is coming.

Our question

here I think

is how?

How will

people see

and hear this

hidden kingdom

treasure?

So this one's

a bit more

tricky.

The other

one was a

pretty obvious

explanation.

This one's a

bit more

tricky.

Verse 52.

Therefore

every scribe

who has been

trained for the

kingdom of

heaven is like

a master of

a house who

brings out of

his treasure

what is new

and what is

old.

Okay, so

before we get

into the detail,

I'm going to

say up front

what I think

this parable

was about.

I think in

short, Jesus

is calling all

of his

disciples to

teach others,

to share

what we've

learnt.

Now, obviously

not in a

capital T

sense.

The book of

James says

those called

to be Bible

teachers in a

formal capacity

that Christ

has equipped.

We are judged

more strictly,

harshly, and

rightly so.

So I don't

think everyone

should count

capital T,

but I don't

know how else

to say this.

Small T.

All disciples

are small T

teachers.

And I think

this tells us

a third

purpose of

these parables.

So Matt

took us

through the

first purpose,

that parables

actually divide

people.

Some will

find them

appealing and

go deeper

into understanding

Jesus.

Others will be

like, well,

that's silly

and stupid,

and actually

it will close

their minds

to Jesus.

So that's

one purpose

of parables.

Then Simon

took us

through the

second purpose

of parables,

and that was

for Jesus

to be

fulfilling

the Psalms.

That in

one sense,

Jesus'

teaching is

just all

the stuff

in the

Old Testament,

but the

way he

brings it

together,

especially in

these parables,

it shows

something new.

So there's

a second

purpose of

the parables.

It's showing

something new

about the

kingdom,

even though

the Old

Testament

pointed to

it.

Here we've

got a third

purpose of

the parables,

and it's

for us.

His

disciples are

meant to

become

teachers.

teachers.

This is

to train

us to

teach

others.

Okay, let's

get into the

detail for a

second.

Yep, let's

go.

I don't know

why I paused.

Verse 51,

this starts

with Jesus

asking his

disciples, who

is certainly

the twelve

apostles, but

I think it's

likely that it

includes men

and women,

because just

before we

have this

chapter on

the parables,

that's when

Jesus looks

around and

goes, here,

here are my

family, my

mother, my

sister.

So I

suspect this

is probably

more than

just the

twelve

apostles standing

here.

Have you

understood all

these parables?

Have you

understood all

these things?

Yes.

I find that

answer funny.

I picture a

classroom, the

teacher teaching

calculus for the

first time, and

the classroom is

just like, yes,

we get it.

Yep.

We're good.

They do

understand in

part.

They're not

rebuked for

being arrogant.

They do

understand, but

gee, they've

got so much

more to learn.

They need

Jesus to die

and rise

again.

They need

the spirit

of truth to

help them

understand.

Isn't that

true of all

of us?

We can say,

yes, but

gee, I've

got a lot

more to

learn.

How many

times do

we open

the Bible

and think

we're reading

a familiar

passage and

it just hits

us again

with something

fresh?

So yes, but

we always go

deeper.

I think I'm

stealing this

from somewhere,

but I can't

quote them.

God's word

isn't something

we ever master.

God's word

is something

that's meant

to increasingly

master us.

I like that

so I thought

I'd share it.

We are always

going deeper

in this

treasure.

So Jesus

connects their

understanding of

his parables to

this picture of

this homeowner

who brings out

these treasures.

So it's about

all his

disciples.

Now I think

where we get

thrown and

confused is

this idea

of a scribe,

a teacher

of the law.

Now I didn't

know this until

preparing for

today, but

apparently there

were scribes

who were

devoted to

hard sayings

in scripture,

which would

include things

like parables,

devoted to

things concerning

the end of

history, end

times.

And they were

called apocryphal

scribes.

And that

seems to fit

this chapter.

All these

parables are

about the

promised end

time kingdom.

It's just that

it's come

secretly before

it becomes

full and

obvious.

So how's

this like being

the owner of

a house who

brings out his

treasure new

and old?

Notice the

change in the

use of treasure

here from

those earlier

parables.

It brings out

of his

treasure.

So it's not

saying external.

It's now his

treasure.

I think that's

like how Jesus

used the word

in chapter 12

verse 35.

For the good

person out of

his good

treasure brings

forth good.

And the evil

person out of

his evil

treasure brings

forth evil.

So in terms of

our words.

So it's actually

what's in your

heart.

It's the

individual

person that's

pictured here.

And I think

being the

master of a

house, I'm

not sure of

this one, I'll

try it out on

you, is

Jesus is giving

authority to

share this

treasure.

You are the

master of the

house.

You can bring

it out.

You can give

it.

So to the

degree that we

grasp what

Jesus is saying

about his

kingdom here,

to that degree

you have

treasure that

you can bring

out as a

scribe, as

a teacher, for

the sake of

others.

We don't

bring it out

to show off.

We bring it

out to give

it so that

others become

rich.

And what is

this new and

old treasure

we're meant to

bring out?

I think the

most natural

reading of this

is to see it as

the revelation

from God.

A Jewish

expert in the

Old Testament

could only

bring out his

treasure concerning

the old

revelation.

But if you see

Jesus and his

kingdom as the

answer to all

those Old

Testament promises,

you can bring

out the new

and the old

and how it all

comes together

in Jesus.

So I'm going

to try and

highlight this

point as sharply

as I can.

a child who

has a very

rudimentary

understanding that

the whole Bible

is about Jesus,

who sings Colin

Buchanan songs

going,

Jesus is the

king,

ruler over

everything.

That wasn't in

my script but I

just got caught

up in Colin.

That child is

more of a

scholar than

any religious

author or

teacher alive

today or the

Pharisees of old

who don't see

Jesus.

They're a

scholar.

Jesus is the

king.

That is wisdom.

That's profound.

Calling the

Old Testament

revelation old,

that's not

downplaying it.

It will be to

our poverty if we

neglect the old

treasure.

It helps us

understand Jesus.

Jesus is the

gospel.

So do you

hear the call of

this parable on

you?

If you're a

disciple of Jesus,

he's calling you to

join him in

building his

kingdom.

Bring out your

understanding of

his kingdom for

others to benefit.

He's calling you to

teach with your

words, with your

life.

If you don't

feel like you've

got much to

offer, on the

one hand, maybe

you do need to

sit more at his

feet, soaking up

the Old and New

Testament.

But on the other

hand, chances are,

if you've been

listening to this

sermon series, you've

got more than you

think you do.

All these

parables we've

heard in chapter

13 give us rich

kingdom perspective

about the reality of

things.

They tell us.

If you've been

listening to the

guys who've been

preaching, you have

profound insight into

what God has done,

what he is doing,

what he will do.

The hidden kingdom

is seen and heard

through his church,

his disciples,

sharing the treasure

that we've learned.

And I think a sermon

can only do so much.

It can only do so

much.

We need those one-to-one

interactions after the

sermon, integrating what

we've learned into our

lives, over Bible study,

going for a walk, when

people are sharing their

burdens.

I can't be everywhere.

A sermon can only do so

much.

We need all of us doing

this, engaged in this

work.

work.

And this work, I don't

think, this teaching is

not just for unbelievers.

I think it's for all of us

to go deeper and deeper

in our understanding.

These parables may not

give you precise words to

say, but they give you an

understanding of history of

what God is doing.

It gives you guidance for

how to help people.

So let me just suggest a

few ways.

Let me paint a few

scenarios.

When a brother or sister is

discouraged about how few

people believe, can it

really be true if so few

believe?

They need you to bring out

your treasure.

Bring out the four soils.

You know what?

There's a reason for the

rejection of Jesus.

There are huge barriers to

faith.

You have Satan, the lies of

Satan.

You have the social

consequences of being a

Christian.

You have the sinful desires

of your wealth and other

things.

Yeah, there's a reason there's

so much rejection.

But don't be discouraged.

Don't lose heart.

There's going to be an

abundant harvest.

Jesus' death conquers those

barriers.

And remember the mustard

seed.

The church looks pathetic.

It looks insignificant.

But it is growing.

He is adding to his church.

It may not be on our

doorstep, but across the

world he is adding to his

church.

Don't lose heart.

The word of God will

permeate the whole world

until the whole dough is

leavened.

Don't be discouraged.

It will be the only

significant thing in the end.

There will be a multitude.

All the birds flocking to

this tree.

There will be a multitude

from every nation

worshipping on the last day.

Don't be discouraged.

When a brother or sister shares their

temptation, their sinful failure,

they need you to bring out your

treasure.

Trust the word of God to be like

leaven in the dough.

It may seem so small an influence in

your life, but God's word will

permeate every inch of you over time.

Keep up the struggle with sin.

Remember the weeds and the wheat.

This world is mixed.

There are causes of evil.

There's causes of sin in this world.

And we might be going, God, why

don't you just take them out?

All he tells us is, I'm protecting

my wheat.

It's for my wheat's sake that I

don't.

We don't understand fully why.

But get the point there.

It's mixed.

Your struggle with sin is normal.

It is normal.

But look up ahead.

The harvest is coming.

And then you will shine like the

sun with the character of Jesus in

your father's kingdom.

Or when a brother or sister is

getting obsessed with some created

thing in their life, they need you

to bring out your treasure.

Remember what you found in Jesus.

Full membership in his kingdom.

Full forgiveness.

Salvation from the fiery furnace.

Reconciliation to the father.

Only knowing his grace and help by

his spirit.

The hope of glory.

All found in Jesus.

What are you doing?

Obsessing with this thing in your

life.

Why do you have such a firm grip on

it?

You have such a better treasure.

Others around you need to see this

treasure in you.

Let it go.

Sell it all.

It won't be loss.

It will be gain for you and others.

Now you may not use those exact words

but do you see how the parables just

they give us what we need.

They give us perspective.

So let's keep learning at the feet of

Jesus.

Soaking up his old and new treasures.

Your Lord calls you to join him in

building his kingdom.

A kingdom this world despises because

it's hidden.

But it's God's kingdom and it will

reach its glorious goal.

It will pervade the whole world.

Every person.

Love.

The love of Christ compels us to

bring out our treasure.

That we've found in him.

Because that great and terrible net is

coming.

And because we need each other.

To speak these truths in every

situation again and again and again

to stand firm and be fruitful and be

ready to shine like the sun when Jesus

comes back.

The love of Christ compels us to bring

out our treasure.

Will you pray with me?

Let's pray.

Father thank you for your mercy in giving us

eyes to see Jesus.

That we might have full life in you.

That we have started that eternal life now.

And that we've got so much more to come.

I thank you for your grace to us that you

have revealed the secrets of the kingdom of

heaven.

When we deserve to be cast out.

You have had such grace.

Lord please help us to share this treasure

with others.

For your glory.

For others good.

In Jesus name.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.