Tenth Sunday after Pentecost – August 21, 2011

The Gospel Is Your Greatest Possession

A sermon based on Matthew 13:44-52

If you have a pen or pencil in your purse or front pocket this morning, I would ask that you please take it out. Some of you might find one lying at the end of your pew. Now take that pen or pencil, and somewhere on your bulletin or inserts write down what your most precious possession is. If you don’t have a pen or pencil, a mental note in your mind will do. I’ll give you a moment.

So what did you write? I’m not going to beat around the bush this morning. Our Lord says that for us as Christians, there should be only one item on that list – the Gospel, and the message of Christ, forgiveness and salvation it brings. That is exactly the point our Savior makes this morning in the parables that make up our sermon text. The Gospel is your greatest possession.

But before jumping into these parables, let us first review what a parable is. It is a teaching device often used by Jesus to illustrate a point of doctrine or convey an important truth. We often define parables as an earthly story with a heavenly meaning…and that is a good definition. A parable is a figure of speech; an extended simile. So, in order to understand a parable we need to look for the point of comparison and in the three parables of our text this morning, the kingdom of heaven is that point of comparison. The kingdom of heaven is the gospel, the message of Jesus Christ and all the blessings that go with it.

With that in mind, we look at our first parable.

Parable #1

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

The scenario that Jesus paints here was not something out of the ordinary. It was not uncommon that during a war, overthrow of a ruler, or political unrest a wealthy man would divide his wealth into thirds. He would keep one-third for his continued use; one-third he would convert to precious stones to be carried with him if flight became necessary; and one-third he would bury in a place considered safe – a place like a field. Of course, if the owner of that treasure died before retrieving it, it would simply remain there.

The man in our parable found such a treasure – and what a treasure it was! So great was it, in fact, that he was willing to give up everything for it. The point of comparison is clear: the Gospel message of salvation (the kingdom of heaven) is such a treasure. I mean, just stop and consider it for a moment! There is nothing more precious in all of the world than for our burdened consciences to be showered with the good news, “Your sins are forgiven.”

After all, our lives are one big, rotten sinful mess. Here we are this morning having committed so many sins this past week that we can’t even count them all. If it wasn’t anger and frustration it was failing to say something when we needed to. If it wasn’t speeding, it was a lack of diligence while working at the job. If it wasn’t gossip, it was unkind and hateful thoughts about another person. Then on top of it all, we try to excuse those sins. Even now Satan has perhaps succeeded in getting you to drift off.

But when we truly come to grips with the weight and enormity of our sin and guilt, and when we realize that we deserve to be punished in hell forever but instead God has given us eternal life– how can we not be affected. That message of forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation must become the most important thing in our life. The knowledge of salvation must dominate and control our lives.

So, what did you write down on your sheet of paper? Please no excuses! No saying, “I didn’t know we were including that!” The Gospel of the kingdom of heaven should always be included. But really, how well have we done in making that Gospel our greatest possession?

Just a glance at this summer’s Sundays tells a disappointing story. In 6 of the 11 services since the beginning of June we have failed to even reach 100 people. Where are we? Oh to be fair, some were on vacation. But did you make special provisions to be in the Word when you were gone? Were we all on vacation? Or was the Gospel just not our greatest possession on that day? To despise God’s Word is a sin against the 3^rd Commandment! To treat the message of the Gospel as something other than your greatest possession is a sin against the 1^st Commandment!

Today you will receive a Bible Class schedule for Bible classes this upcoming year. Will we really take time to look at them and make a conscious, concerted, whole-hearted effort to be at some of them? When the word is our greatest treasure, the answer can only be yes. Why wouldn’t we want to be?

Finally, what about on the home front – in the day to day living of your life? What place does the Gospel, and the message of Christ that it contains, receive in your life? I know how it goes…oh believe me, I know how it goes. I tell myself I’m so busy with preparations for Sunday services, for teaching Catechism, Christ-Light and Confirmation; but when do I sit down for time between just me and Jesus. I tell myself I need to be a father, a husband, and de-stress with things I enjoy; but this can’t be at the expense of my greatest possession. Yet I’m guilty! I’ve sinned! So have you!

It’s time to stop putting other things first! It’s time to stop being so busy with all the “other” things of life! I know what you say, “I’ve got the kids to take care of; I’ve got to get them here and there; they need this and that. There’s work to be done around the house.” But what gets pushed out of the way – the one thing that ought not be pushed out of the way - our greatest treasure!

The heart of the matter is simply this: The gospel of Christ and the precious truths contained within, truths concerning our eternal salvation, must be dearer and nearer to us than anything else we may possess. It is the only thing that can sustain us in this life. It is the only thing that can give meaning to this life. It is the only place where we find the true treasure that gives salve to soothe our sin-filled souls and the joy of knowing we are redeemed, restored, ransomed children of the God; children of the God who has prepared an eternity of bliss for us. Dear Christian Friend - make the gospel of salvation your greatest possession!

Let us join in singing hymn 290 vs. 1.

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Our Savior wasn’t done. To emphasize the important point that the gospel is our greatest treasure, he told this second parable…

Parable #2

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The merchant was looking for fine pearls, and when he found one which was more exquisite than all the rest, he recognized its value and sold everything to purchase it. This parable is very similar to the first and the point of comparison just as easy to see: the Gospel message of salvation (the kingdom of heaven) is the pearl of great price.

But while this parable is strikingly similar, a different application can be made. You see, since the fall into sin, there is an emptiness in the lives of all people. Because human beings are separated from God by sin from the point of conception there is something lacking in their very existence. The natural knowledge of the law and one’s own conscience cause a spiritual restlessness, a searching for what is missing.

Like the merchant searching for fine pearls, people are searching for something to fill the emptiness in their lives. But the work-righteous systems of this world cannot satisfy the heart burdened with sin and guilt. That can come only through the knowledge of sins forgiven and heaven gained by the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.

When God reveals that truth to a person through the Gospel, life is complete. There is no need to look further. The gospel gives us something they we cannot find anywhere else. It gives us eternal life and peace with God as a free gift. There is nothing we have to do or can do to earn it. The message of forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation makes every other message pale by comparison. It is the “pearl of great value,” the only message that can guarantee heaven.

Finding that pearl is life changing. It becomes the most valuable thing in life. The knowledge of salvation puts everything else in our lives into proper perspective. But the temptation is there, isn’t it - to look for something more? To say that the work of Jesus is “one of the things needed,” and “the other thing needed” is my own works. Oh to be sure, our sinful nature wants to take some credit. Satan whispers quietly in our ears, “try a little harder, otherwise you might not make it.” And if we aren’t careful, our trust can subtly shift from a trust in Jesus to a trust in ourselves. And that – a trust in ourselves - is no trust at all; that is a trust that does not lead to heaven, but to hell.

That’s why we must always make the message of Christ found in the Gospel the pearl of great price. Only here are we reminded that Christ’s work alone is what’s valuable; that his blood is what’s precious; that his death is the payment for our sins; and his resurrection the guarantee of everlasting life.

The merchant sold all the pearls he already had because they could not compare in value with the one pearl he had found. Likewise, the believer sees that nothing this world offers as far as an answer to sin can even approach what we have in Christ, our Savior. So the Gospel is the one thing we need to fend off the foolishness of trusting in our works. It’s the one thing that will drive away the cunning craftiness of the devil’s ploys. It’s the one thing needed. Remember how Jesus reminded Martha of that? There was Mary, sitting at Jesus feet, listing to The Word. Martha had wanted to pull her away. But Jesus tells her what was the pearl of great value: “‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered…only one thing is needed’” (Luke 10:41,42).

Let us join in singing hymn 290 vs. 2.

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One more parable still sits before us, but this one takes us in a different direction. The point of comparison is the same, the kingdom of heaven, but the application much different.

Parable #3

⁴⁷ “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. ⁴⁸ When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹ This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

This parable serves as a warning. A warning to earnestly make use of the time of grace God has given to us. If we are tempted to think that our use of the gospel is of little importance – think again. If we think that Jesus is overstating the importance of the message of salvation when he says we should be ready to forsake all else for it – we are to be pitied.

When the gospel is proclaimed, it draws many people – that is the net. But not everyone who hears the gospel really believes it. Not everyone in a visible Christian congregation or assembly is really a Christian – those are the bad fish caught in the net with the good fish.

That’s still true today. Some people go through all the outward motions of worship or congregational membership, but their hearts are somewhere else. Some are Sunday morning Christians. They give a show of piety for one hour a week, and then live the rest of the time as if they had never heard of their Savior’s forgiveness or his will for their lives. Others give the impression of being servants of Christ, but secretly remain slaves to sin and Satan. Their pet sins rule in their hearts and dominate their lives. Their repentance is hollow. Their Christianity a sham.

But rather than looking around us trying to think of people here at Emanuel Redeemer who might fit these descriptions, far better for us to examine ourselves and see if any of these characterize us. Be honest and watch out for hypocrisy. If you wrote down on your sheet this morning Jesus, or the gospel, ask yourself, “Would I have written that had I not been sitting in church”? Be honest and watch out for hypocrisy! Beware of that person inside of you that wants to say, “I can think of some people who could have benefitted from hearing Jesus’ parable this sermon.” I pray you benefited from hearing God’s Word today, because I know have. I know that I cannot look my Savior in the eye and tell him I have always treasured the gospel of salvation above everything else. I know you cannot either.

Friends, that’s precisely why we need this gospel to be our greatest treasure; our pearl of great price. Hell is real, and our sins of apathy, lukewarmness, of shoving this treasure to the side are worthy of being sentenced there. The only way we can avoid this is if we are wearing the robe of Christ’s righteousness. That robe is received only by faith. That faith is created and kept alive only by the gospel. For there we are told of the greatest love story this world has ever known - the story of God’s love for us that sent his only Son to this earth to be the substitute and the sacrifice that would pay for our sins. Is there any treasure greater than this!

It’s interesting to note that at the end of these parables Jesus asked his disciples, “Have you understood all these things?” He asked this question because he wanted to make sure they understood. They said yes. What about us? We can also answer yes. By the grace of God our hearts and minds have been opened to understand these parables. We comprehend their point: Christ, his Gospel message, the kingdom of heaven is to be our #1 concern. Now, since we understand it, we need to do it. No more excuses. No more saying “I’m too busy.” No more hiding behind an air of religiousness because you are in church 50% of the time. Remember, Jesus never said, “Blessed are they who hear my word and walk away and forget it.” Instead he said, “Blessed are they who hear my word and do what it says.” It’s time to recommit ourselves to the Lord. That’s starts with putting him and his Word first. God help us do this. Amen.

We sing hymn 386(1,4,6)