There are several parables in a row where Jesus is explaining what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.

These are parables and maybe shouldn’t be taken literally, but I believe there is wisdom I these sayings that we can unpack if we think of them in literal terms.

The treasure is said to be hidden in a field.

To be hidden in a field would imply that it was buried. So as the parable goes, the man finds this treasure and doesn’t just take it and go back to his life. He hides it again. The he goes and sells everything he has to buy the field.

A friend shared with me that back then you had to own the field to claim ownership of anything found on the property. That is still true this day in many places.

This treasure was so impressive that the man sold everything he had to buy the field.

Many today say that when we get saved, we have to give up everything for the treasure we’ve received in Christ Jesus. In reality, God has never asked or expected many of us to sell everything we own to follow him. There are some that may feel God has asked them to give up things for Him or give things “to” Him in case He should direct them to “let them go”, but this does not apply to everyone.

In truth though, we are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to Jesus to be used as He directs us. We dedicate our lives to His service in whatever capacity He chooses to use us.

While we may not be asked to give up our possessions for God, They should never get in the way of doing what He has called us to do.

Is there something in your life that is a hindrance to your relationship with God? Many times when we give up something for God, He has given us the grace to give it up.

Why didn’t the man just take the treasure back home with him? The parable implies that the man was alone when he found the treasure, so surely no one would have known if he had taken the treasure back home with him. Why then did he sell everything he had to buy the field?

This man had to come by the treasure (the Kingdom of Heaven) by honest means. It was dishonest to take the treasure without first paying for the field where it was found. We cannot build a relationship on lies.

Likewise, when we come to God and receive salvation, He knows our heart. We cannot receive out of deception. The sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf demands nothing less than we give our lives to Him.

In these parables it seems as though it is rare to find the Kingdom of Heaven and in that particular time it would have been. This was a parable told under the Old Covenant.

Jesus was also making the distinction that few find the narrow way.

Psalms 119:11 says,  “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee.”

David is talking in this Psalm and in the ones around it about following God’s law and remembering the law. He hides it in his heart so that he will not sin against God. This concept of hiding the Word in our hearts is something we must grasp. The Word of God must not be a passing thought. We must meditate on scripture and know it in our hearts. No one ever said you need to memorize the book, chapter and verse numbers. Those didn’t exist when they were written. But to know God’s message to us and be able to effectively utilize this knowledge is essential to the Christian walk.

Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬ ‭says, “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”

Mary heard the Word of God by the angel and when it says she “kept” them and “pondered” them, it is saying that she “hid” them and “considered” them in her heart.

Mary understood the importance of hiding this Word in her heart.

Why does the Word need protection? Why does the Word need to be hidden?

The faith by which we receive the Word of God is  contrary to our fleshly mind and if given opportunity, our mind can reason foolishly away the Word received by faith.

Today, we have the Holy Spirit available in overcoming power to renew our minds to God’s Word so that what is hidden may be remembered and revealed to others.

David, Mary and the disciples under the Old

Covenant, did not have the baptism of the Holy Spirit since Jesus had not yet ascended and sent the Spirit to us. We see this time and time again where the disciples just didn’t seem to understand what Jesus was saying, or even knowing truly who He was. They had to actively work to remember God’s Word by their own strength. That is not to say that we don’t have to actively fight the “fight of faith” to keep God’s Word fresh in our minds, but we do have God’s Spirit to remind us and empower us to overcome.