Daily Devotion
With Pastor Ancel Presnell
“CENTERED ON ETERNAL RICHES”
Jesus speaks of treasure being hidden in the field and the treasure that is hidden is likened unto the kingdom of God (Matthew 13:44). Dr. John MacArthur sheds a lot of insightful light onto this verse with a good look at the normative practice of that day, it ruly brings the verse alive.
“As He does in the other parables, Jesus builds this simple story around an experience or situation familiar to His hearers. Few, if any, would themselves have found such a treasure; but the practice of hiding valuables in the ground was common. Because there were no banks or other public depositories, most people protected their valuables in a secret spot in the ground. When they needed money or decided to sell or trade a piece of jewelry, for instance, they would go to the place at night, uncover the jar or storage box, take out what was desired, and rebury the rest.
Because Palestine had been a battleground for hundreds of years, families would often even bury food, clothing, and various household objects to protect them from plundering enemy soldiers. The famed Jewish historian Josephus wrote, “The gold and the silver and the rest of that most precious furniture which the Jews had and which the owner’s treasured underground was done to withstand the fortunes of war.”
Over the years, the ground of Palestine became a veritable treasure house. When the owner of buried treasure died or was forcefully driven from the land—sometimes deported to a foreign land such as Assyria or Babylon—the treasure would be forever lost unless someone accidentally discovered it, as occasionally happened.” (MacArthur, 1998)
Dear Christian, the results we see in ministry today often come from seeds sown and prayers made by those before us. My own faith is shaped by my parents’ prayers and guidance. I hope the treasures I share with my children will benefit others for years to come.May we continue to look for the hidden treasures of the kingdom and bury hidden treasures by sowing the word of God through ministry into our homes, community, and the world. God never waste hidden treasures of the Kingdom of God!
Matthew 13:44—”44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath”
