Hidden Treasures

Mea e 'ae e tatau ma le aso
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."  Matthew 13:44

In ancient times it was customary for folks to hide their treasures underground. Thefts and robberies were frequent those days and there were no banks for people to keep their savings.

And whenever there was a change in the ruling power, those who had large possessions were liable to be picked on by the ruling powers. Moreover the country was in constant danger of invasion by marauding armies. And as a consequence, the rich people would preserve their wealth by concealing it, and the earth was looked upon as a safe common hiding place.

But a lot of times, the place they concealed their treasures was forgotten; sometimes death might come upon the owner, imprisonment or exile might separate him from his treasure, and the wealth he had taken so much pains to preserve was left for the fortunate finder.

In Christ's day it was not uncommon to discover in neglected land old coins and ornaments of gold and silver.  A man hires land to cultivate, and as the oxen plow the soil, buried treasure is unearthed. As the man  discovers this this treasure, he sees that a fortune is within his reach.

Restoring the gold to its hiding place, he returns to his home and sells all that he has, in order to purchase the field containing the treasure. His family and his neighbors think that he has gone crazy.  Looking on the field, they see no value, other then farm produce in the neglected soil.

But the man knows that there are treasures within this leased field; and when he has the title to the field, he is free to search every inch of it to find the treasure that he has secured.

This parable Jesus tells us, illustrates the value of the heavenly treasure, "the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field;" and the effort one should make to secure it.

The finder of the treasure in the field was ready to give up all that he had, sell everything he had, and ready to work with untiring labor, not caring what people says about him, he does it knowingly in order to secure the hidden riches.

So is true of the finder of heavenly treasure, he will count no labor too great and no sacrifice too big, in order to gain the treasures of gospel truth.

In the parable the field containing the treasure represents the Holy Scriptures. And the gospel is the treasure. The earth itself as damaged as it is also filled with precious things as is the word of God.

The Saviour saw that men were absorbed in getting gain, and were losing sight of eternal realities. He undertook to correct this evil. He sought to break the spell that was paralyzing the soul. Lifting up His voice He cried, "What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matt. 16:26.

He presents before fallen humanity the world they have lost sight of, that they may behold eternal realities. He takes them to the threshold of the Infinite, flushed with the indescribable glory of God, and shows them the treasure therein.

This is the treasure that is found in the Scriptures. The Bible is God's great lesson book, His great educator. The foundation of all true science is contained in the Bible. Every branch of knowledge may be found by searching the word of God. And above all else it contains the science of all sciences, the science of salvation. The Bible is the mine of the unsearchable riches of Christ.  Is this not worthy of all that you have?

Ia manuia,

failauga p. anoa'i
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