The treasure and the pearl of great price both represent salvation through Jesus Christ which is the greatest treasure. It gives us what money can’t buy, forgiveness of sins, and transformation of our character. It provides what riches cannot secure, a true joy of heart. Jesus declared it can’t be destroyed.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:20-21

Sadly, most people won’t seek it because they’ve already dismissed it. They’re not interested in it because they are too focused on today with all of its claims on their lives. Many are busy storing up treasures on earth and too busy in the activities of this life to care about eternal treasures.

Yet Jesus is still reaching out and drawing men and women to Himself because He wants us to recognize how great the treasures are that He offers. The Psalmist described it well.

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Psalm 19:10

When a man found it, he hid it again… (v. 44b) When he found one of great value… (v. 46a)

Two different men each discover treasure. Both men recognize the great value of the treasure. One of them is probably a field worker who stumbled upon the treasure. The other is a merchant who buys and sells pearls. He was searching for valuable pearls and when he found it he knew its true worth.

They both illustrate how people are introduced to the Kingdom of God. Some stumble into it. The Apostle Paul thought he was solidly in God’s kingdom because of his Jewish religion. When Jesus struck him blind on the road to Damascus, he realized how bankrupt he was spiritually.

Like the Ethiopian Eunuch, who traveled from Ethiopia to Jerusalem in search of the true God, the merchant was on the hunt for the best pearls he could find.

The word “found” is heurisko (hyoo-ris-ko). It’s a verb that means to come upon after searching. It also means to come upon without previously searching. It describes both men, the one who wasn’t looking but found the treasure and the other who searched and found it. In Luke 15, Jesus describes this.

‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’…‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’… 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:6,9,24)

I, like Paul, wasn’t looking for the kingdom. I was ignorant of who Jesus is or the gift of salvation that he offered me. I didn’t really know what I believed but I was fine in my spiritual ignorance. God found me and delivered me from my ignorant pride and showed me the treasure of His salvation.

What are you searching for in this life? There are many treasures that people grasp for, but they’ll cost you dearly and they won’t give you lasting joy.

The treasure of salvation that Jesus offers freely will truly satisfy you. His treasure brings an abiding love, peace and hope that is the great gift that will sustain you in the worst of times.

in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. (v. 44c) he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. (v. 46b)

Hear is the point of the parable. Two men each found something so valuable that they sold everything they possessed to obtain it. Nothing else would satisfy them. The one who found the buried treasure was so overjoyed that he eagerly surrendered everything he had to gain that treasure. The second man did the same thing. He gave up all to purchase that pearl.

In both parables, the treasure is purchased by letting go of everything else. Genuine saving faith means letting go of everything and giving up all trust that anyone or anything else can make us acceptable to God on our own.

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Matthew 16:26

The wonderful truth is this, what we give up to gain the lasting treasure of Jesus Christ, He will give back to us more than we can ever imagine.

Peter spoke of the fabulous inheritance that is our, in Christ.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 1 Peter 1:3-4

Jesus gives us true life, His pure righteousness, and our eternal salvation. It is the treasure that can be ours to possess! Paul gladly gave up everything for this treasure

…whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:7-8

How about you? Are you willing to give up everything for it?