The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds
The person passing through the field had eyes to see what others did not see. The treasure was hidden, lest it be trampled by those who did not appreciate its value. It was found only by a heart that was open to the possibility of its existence.
In our own day the way people think about treasure has two common types or poles. One is to think of treasure in a shallow way, considering money, cars, riches, fame, or other temporary pleasures as treasure. But such treasure is obvious rather than hidden. It is the of the sort that people desire to display ostentatiously to others. Or if they hide it they don't do so because it is precious but rather because they know how easy it is to lose. This was not the sort of treasure about which Jesus spoke, not the sort that was worth trading all one had in exchange for it. The other way people think of treasure is to believe that there could be nothing worthy of the name, to flatten the value of all things to so that none rises above the level of the merely commonplace. We often do this when we become jaded and skeptical about the first class of treasure and don't know where else to look. Without being open to the transcendent these are probably the only two options. And neither is satisfactory. Neither can give life direction or orientation.
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
The treasure of the kingdom is hidden precisely because it is too precious to be regarded as commonplace and because the riches of this world cannot compare with it. Treasures of this world are destroyed by moths and rust and stolen by thieves (see Matthew 6:19). But such threats will never find or touch treasures stored up in heaven. Only such treasure as this is worthy of one exchanging all she has and all she is in order to possess it. She hides it again once she initially possesses it because it is like a seed that needs to be nurtured and take root in order to be securely possessed. If she flaunts it too soon, exposing it to the danger of those who do not appreciate it, she risks losing it. But the more secure she becomes in her possession of the treasure the more it can become a resource that enriches not only herself, but also others. In fact it is the nature of this treasure to make those who possess it desire to enrich others as well. It is a fact that once it is possessed it is not diminished when it is shared. This is accounts for Paul's desire, "that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (see Colossians 2:2-3).
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
Are our own hearts open to the fact there does exist a very precious treasure? It can only be found by hearts wise enough to despise worldly treasure and yet still sufficiently full of desire in order to seek something greater. It is ultimately a treasure that is found by faith before it is possessed in substance.
your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (see First Peter 1:7).
Our faith is what first possesses the treasure of his promises. But we hope to one day have them in fullness. They are more than worthy anything we could possibly offer in exchange for them.
he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire (see Second Peter 1:4).
May we prize wisdom and discernment above riches as did Solomon. For it is this wisdom that attains to that which is eternal, which alone can satisfy, and for which all of us were made.
Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart
to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.
When we learn to treasure what matters to God we will begin to experience the reality of his promises even here and now because "all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose".
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