The kingdom of heaven is like
treasure hidden in a field.
—Matthew 13:44
In February 2013, a couple, known only as John and Mary, discovered eight rusted cans on their California property. There were 1,427 coins in the cans, dating from 1847 to 1894. The stash had a face value of $27,980, with an appraised worth of $10 million.
John and Mary protected their find by reburying it.
In Jesus’ buried treasure story, he said: “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.”
Your chance of finding a John-and-Mary treasure is south of zero.
But the kingdom of heaven treasure is yours if you want it. When Jesus started preaching, this was his first message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Mt 4:17).
Earthly trinkets don’t
hold a candle to eternal treasure.