Study Questions – Parables #6
Things of Great Value
Matthew 13:44-46
INTRODUCTION: Have you ever found something of extraordinary value? Maybe it wasn’t valuable to anyone else, but you saw exceeding worth in whatever it was. The process of finding is an exciting experience, and it is even more exciting when we find something that is valuable not just to us but to everyone else as well. Jesus, in the parables of the treasure and the pearl, is trying to communicate the immense worth of the Kingdom of Heaven and the overwhelming joy that is experienced when the Kingdom is found. In the age of antiquity, there was nothing more singularly valuable than a pearl. Yes, finding a treasure in the field would be quite valuable as it likely contained gold and rare jewels. But then Jesus seems to up the ante and compares the Kingdom to a pearl. Gold, jewels, and silver none compare to the value of a pearl. When we consider all of the things that we could find in this life, we must ask what is most valuable? Is it pleasure, wealth, friendship, materialism, or morality? Each of those things, when experienced or found outside of the Kingdom of Heaven, will disappoint and tragically fall short. However, as Jesus notes, the Kingdom is something of surpassing value and worth. The problem with most of us is that we would like a little of the Kingdom as an add-on to the rest of our lives. We want to hedge our bets. You cannot hedge your bets with the Kingdom. This parable urges us to abandon what we thought was the focus of life and focus entirely on what God is doing with the Kingdom.[1] There is substantial joy in finding the Kingdom and in living in the Kingdom. The longer we dwell there, and the more frequently we remember the experience of finding it, we will continually find that substantial joy is a treasure.
GETTING STARTED – As you begin your group time, talk about a time in your life when you found something of great value. What was your experience? What feelings did you have at the moment of finding or discovering the object? Did it have real worth, or was it only valuable to you?
IN THE WORD – Let’s dig back into the passage. It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.
First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)
Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.
Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?
Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?
[1] Craig L. Blomberg, Interpreting the Parables, Second Edition. (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2012), 384–385.