THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN - PART 1

SATURDAY 07 DECEMBER 2024

I'm introducing a new topic known as the Kingdom of heaven, which is a great theme sourced from Jesus' parables concerning the Hidden Treasure and the Costly Pearl. We were born into an excellent or magnificent sovereign, namely the Kingdom of light. As for the Kingdom of God, Jesus said, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again" (John 3:3 NIV).

Furthermore, concerning the Kingdom of heaven, Jesus said, "I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man" (John 3:12-13 NIV). Just as Jesus Christ Himself mentioned in the book of John, we should always believe him - as he speaks of heavenly things, because He came from heaven. More below!

Reference: Matthew 13:44-46 New International Version (NIV)

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

I want you to pay apt attention to the above versified references. The first part, which is verse 44, reads: "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."

Now watch this: There is a treasure hidden in a field. Who is this person that had this GOLDEN opportunity to locate the hidden treasure? In accordance with the versified reference, his name is a man. It reads, "When a man found it, he hid it again, and then, in his joy, he went and sold all he had to buy that field." Got it? So it is a specific gender, namely man.

If you read it properly, you'll observantly agree that the man wasn't looking for the treasure; he actually bumped into it. So the Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then it was accidentally found by a passer-by who wasn't looking for it. But wonderful! The man was enthusiastically elated as a result of what he just discovered. What a treasure! He said in his heart and replayed in his mind.

Now what next? A behavioural occurrence closely followed the sudden insight or discovery: The man dealt wisely with the "finding" by looking at and regarding it attentively. In other words, he didn't just find it, he pondered and considered it appreciatively and adoringly, thereby acknowledging the unco value or worth. This is the reason for the expression: "When a man found it, he hid it again..." - and then, he proceeded to sell everything he owned in order to raise money and buy that field.

Moreover, we should equally notice that the treasure was hidden in a field. So the man who discovered it by accident, hid it again - which is utterly significant because it was the second "concealing" intimation, denoting that he reservedly dedicated and showered a lot of attention on it, on account of the great worth, and then covered it -by way of safe cache.

What about the second segment of the versified statements? It literally reads, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it" (verse 45-46). Noticeably, this is a different person, and the gender wasn't specified in many translations. It was a person involved in wholesale trade of jewellery, who was in search of fine pearls, and upon finding a single pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought that particular pearl.

Notably, the single pearl was flawless; something of great rarity and worth. However, unlike the first man who mistakenly bumped into a hidden treasure, the second person was purposeful in their search - as a jewel merchant on the hunt for exquisite pearls.

Now stay tuned for the expository structure of their directional and signalling symbolisms which are designed to inspire us to comprehend the purposeful nature that led to the ultimate restoration of the Kingdom keys. Shalom! 

Scripture Reading - Matthew 6:9-10; Matthew 7:21; Matthew 13:31-32; Matthew 13:47-50.

Exuberant Declaration:

I function according to the principles and customs of Kingdom of heaven, which have changed my perspective completely, and have instilled in me, the mind of Christ, thereby positioning me to walk in a manner worthy of God's enabling grace, who called me into His eternal Kingdom and glory. Praise God!