Comments on: Treasure in a Field: Thoughts on Matthew 13.44 http://www.witheringfig.com/new-testament/treasure-in-a-field-thoughts-on-matthew-13-44/ In principio erat Verbum... Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:11:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Stephen Hebert http://www.witheringfig.com/new-testament/treasure-in-a-field-thoughts-on-matthew-13-44/comment-page-1/#comment-33831 Stephen Hebert Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:00:42 +0000 http://www.witheringfig.com/?p=1751#comment-33831 The "mirror" aspect of this is what I like most. Both interpretations work together; we needn't limit ourselves to a single interpretation that we deem categorically "true." Appreciate your thoughts, amigo... The “mirror” aspect of this is what I like most. Both interpretations work together; we needn’t limit ourselves to a single interpretation that we deem categorically “true.”

Appreciate your thoughts, amigo…

]]> By: Jared Bourgeois http://www.witheringfig.com/new-testament/treasure-in-a-field-thoughts-on-matthew-13-44/comment-page-1/#comment-33830 Jared Bourgeois Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:11:05 +0000 http://www.witheringfig.com/?p=1751#comment-33830 I had never thought of the first interpretation. As you point out, it's a beautiful allegory of what God has done: he gave his all for mankind, his great treasure. This, in its simplicity, is a sublime truth. The beauty of the two above interpretations is that they work together--even mirror each other: God reaches out and give his all for man; and, man finds God and likewise sacrifices all . Ultimately the parable relates to the "Kingdom of Heaven," which Jesus alludes to in his prayer to the Father: "Thy kingdom come." I always thought it interesting that the Savior, who presumably came to usher in God's Kingdom, prayed that God's "kingdom come." This is something of a paradox in itself. The story of the rich man sheds light on this paradox, and on the weighty reality of the second interpretation above. Although the rich man had kept all the commandments from his youth, Jesus pointed out that he lacked one thing, "sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me." (Luke 18:22) The ostensible connection between selling "all that thou hast" in both this account and the parable above should not be overlooked. This is the "weighty reality"--that God truly requires the sacrifice of our all to attain his kingdom. Only by doing so, and by following Jesus, would the rich man have attained "treasure in heaven." The same applies to us. God has already given his all--his Holy Son--for our benefit. Forgive the March Madness-induced reference, but the ball is now in our court. I had never thought of the first interpretation. As you point out, it’s a beautiful allegory of what God has done: he gave his all for mankind, his great treasure. This, in its simplicity, is a sublime truth. The beauty of the two above interpretations is that they work together–even mirror each other: God reaches out and give his all for man; and, man finds God and likewise sacrifices all .

Ultimately the parable relates to the “Kingdom of Heaven,” which Jesus alludes to in his prayer to the Father: “Thy kingdom come.” I always thought it interesting that the Savior, who presumably came to usher in God’s Kingdom, prayed that God’s “kingdom come.” This is something of a paradox in itself.

The story of the rich man sheds light on this paradox, and on the weighty reality of the second interpretation above. Although the rich man had kept all the commandments from his youth, Jesus pointed out that he lacked one thing, “sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.” (Luke 18:22) The ostensible connection between selling “all that thou hast” in both this account and the parable above should not be overlooked. This is the “weighty reality”–that God truly requires the sacrifice of our all to attain his kingdom. Only by doing so, and by following Jesus, would the rich man have attained “treasure in heaven.” The same applies to us.

God has already given his all–his Holy Son–for our benefit. Forgive the March Madness-induced reference, but the ball is now in our court.

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