Matt. xiii. 44. The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in afield ; the which, when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and huyeth that field.
THE Gospel,, as viewed in various lights, admits of various representations. It is generally set forth as small in its beginnings, but increasing in importance. But we must not therefore suppose it to be of small value. Our Lord sufficiently guards against this mis- take by the parable before us. He shews us, that the Gospel, even while hid from our view, is exceed- ing precious —
It will be proper to shew,
I. Why the kingdom of heaven is Hkened to a " trea- sure hid" — " The kingdom of heaven" is an expression pecu- liar to the New Testament —
[By it we are not always to understand heaven itself; it is frequently used to signify Christ's spiritual kingdom ; and it is so called, because it is the re-establishment of God's empire over the hearts of men, and because what is thus begun in grace will be consummated in glory.]
This may well be considered as "a treasure" —
[There is no other thing so deserving of this name. Every one that is possessed of it may say with truth, "All things are mine^" He is " blessed — with all spiritual blessings — in hea- venly things — in Christ''." Every earthly pleasure is con- temptible in comparison of it.]
But it is compared to a treasure *'hid in a field" —
[The mysteries of the Gospel were from eternity hid in the bosom of the Father*^. Neither men nor angels could pos- sibly have devised them. Who could have thought of bringing man back to God through the death of God's only Son ? And of reducing him to a willing subjection by the operation of God's Spirit ? A finite mind could never have conceived such an idea: but these mysteries, though revealed, are still hid from the natural man*^. They still appear foolishness, and are a stumbling-block to many*^. Paul, though so learned and reli- gious, could not receive them in his unconverted state ^: nor would he ever have embraced them, if God had not opened his eyes^. The Apostles, though instructed by our Lord himself all the time of his ministry, needed, after all, a divine illumina- tion^: nor is a spirit of revelation less necessary for us. To this very hour there is as much ground as ever for that devout
^ 1 Cor. iii. 21. ^ Eph. i. 3. <= Eph. iii. 9.
d 1 Cor. ii. 14. ^ i Cor. i. 23. f Acts xxii. 3, 4.
g Acts ix. 17, 18. ^ Luke xxiv. 45.