Towards Advent 2014: Treasure hidden in a field (Matt 13:44)

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"The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

(Matthew 13:44-46)

I personally don't think that the man and merchant mentioned in these verses represented Jesus Himself, even though quite a few Bible commentators tend to interpret those as such. The metaphors of the special kingdom that He portrayed weren't meant to imply its ruler or recipient as much as they implied the kingdom's nature.

Like treasure hidden in a field. Ancient Palestine encompassed land that bridged so strategically Egypt and other great empires that it was often invaded and ravaged. The unstable political and military scene explains why it was common practice for the people to hide their money, belongings and treasure while they could, the ground being a common hiding place. Sometimes, they died or were captured before they could retrieve the items that they had buried. The buried items would then remain underground, unknown to the land's new owners, until they were stumbled upon accidentally - likely by peasant labourers working the land. Treasure hidden in a field was the peasant's ultimate dream (and dilemma) as well as a significant motif in local fables and folklore. It is therefore interesting that Jesus had employed it to highlight a certain aspect of His Heavenly Kingdom.

The inaugurated Kingdom - unseen and yet real and glorious - is to be discovered. Whether the find is deliberate or not, its finder must choose to invest in it or he would be a sad fool at its consummation. The man in the story covered it up because he was not yet the owner of the land from which the treasure was unearthed; he would be, in fact, a thief to keep the treasure that belonged rightfully to the land's owner. Therefore, he sold all he had in order to buy up the field - and hence, the treasure within. He probably savoured it slowly after he took possession of the field. Here is where the metaphor is limited, like all metaphors are in one way or another. Readers of Matthew's gospel are not to concern themselves too much over the loss of the original owner of the field or if he knew about the treasure; neither was he a fool to have sold the field with the hidden treasure in it (for all we know, the buyer could have paid a very high price for it - it was all that he had, Jesus said). Rather, our focus should be on the main character - the man who bought - whose attitude, commitment and courage towards the treasure indicates the priority that God's Kingdom should have in our hearts. Are we so convinced of the authenticity, reality and inevitability of the Kingdom that we pursue it eagerly regardless of what it costs us? The merchant's sacrifice (v.45-46) serves to emphasise the joy that one should have and can expect in embracing the Kingdom, of which Christ is King. The Kingdom is worth our denial of the world (and in some cases, worldly acquisitions, recognition and acceptance) in order to be part of it. That is what the Kingdom is like. 

With Advent just around the corner, it does us good to reflect on the manner of the Kingdom we have embraced as Christ's believers.

My head tells me that it is true... but I want to be fully convinced in the heart that my faith is worth every tear that has fallen on its account, every cost that I've counted and every life decision I have made for its sake. Perhaps, I could begin by remembering that a Man was sent on Earth to die for my (our) sins. And this Man was the Son of God. The kingdom I have embraced is His - a kingdom like treasure hidden in a field. Not in just any field, and certainly not in a football field - but in a field of ancient, war-torn Palestine.

This shall be my Advent journey this year.