Matthew 13:36

“The Kingdom of God is like a treasure hidden in a field.”

Jesus keeps his focus on the Kingdom of God, always. That kingdom is here now but is certainly coming in its fullness.  He likens it to a man who found a phenomenally precious treasure hid in an ordinary field. Unfortunately the man did not own that field so he could not claim the treasure as his own. So, after he uncovered it and saw how precious it was he covered it again because he did not own the field. In order to get that treasure he must purchase the field.

So, knowing the value of the hidden treasure he gladly sold all he had in order to purchase that special field that contained the treasure. After he sold all he, with exuberant joy, bought the field in which he had discovered the treasure.  So he had the treasure and the field in the bargain.

So, Jesus implied, when a person realizes the exceeding worth of the treasure he found then he will sell all he owns and then buy that field and the treasure.

I think Jesus put the emphasis on the “sell all,” because, through the ages, that has been the call to all who are seeking the treasure of God’s salvation and new life. We who have heard that call remember to this day how we sold all in order to buy that treasure and the field. The fact that it bankrupted us of all self-righteousness meant nothing in comparison to gaining the wealth of salvation and fellowship with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. Our willingness to sell all did not seem all that difficult.  I think it was because we badly needed salvation and were to grasp the free gift that God was offering. Looking back, who of us regrets selling all our self righteousness in order to gain the righteousness of God Almighty?  Certainly not I.