Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
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The Questions
1) Why is the treasure buried?
2) In what ways is the Kingdom of Heaven like a treasure?
3) Why would Jesus use the analogy of a field?
Matthew 13:44
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.
Original Intent
1) Why is the treasure buried?
Paul says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18) Jesus teaches in this min-parable that while the Kingdom of Heaven is of supreme value, it’s true value is often overlooked and remains unseen. The incredible glories of the gospel, the freedom found in Christ, and the overwhelming riches of sharing in His inheritance are breathtaking for the believer, but to the person who doesn’t believe, it’s nothing but foolishness. In Jesus’ story, the owner of the field had to first discover the vast treasure before he was willing to forfeit everything else for its gain. In the same way, we too must discover this beautiful treasure, both of Christ Himself and His eternal, heavenly Kingdom.
2) In what ways is the Kingdom of Heaven like a treasure?
In Revelation 3:18, Jesus says, “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.” He was speaking to the church in Laodicea, which was a city well known for its wealth, its fine clothing, and its medicinal eye ointment. These were the things they held the corner market on; these made them well-known. Jesus took their everyday livelihood and pointed their focus to Him and His riches. He teaches that He alone holds all wealth, He owns the clothing of righteousness without shame, and He will heal their “eyes” that they might see Him as their ultimate treasure. In the parable in Matthew, Jesus teaches that He alone is worth all sacrifice we might make for the gospel and for building His kingdom. Paul says it like this, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8)
3) Why would Jesus use the analogy of a field?
Fields generally appear barren and empty for the majority of the year. Everyone enjoys a full harvest of healthy crops, but for the most part, the field is overlooked. It’s just dirt. In the agrarian society of Jesus’ day, a field was intended for one thing, growing food for sustenance. Food to sell and make a living from and food to eat and nourish bodies. Without the field and the crops, neither of these could take place. Fields were critical. Jesus takes this everyday necessity and says the Kingdom of Heaven is buried here in the seemingly barren, normal, everyday dirt and toil of life. The treasure of His kingdom is found in the mundane; it’s where it flourishes.
Everyday Application
1) Why is the treasure buried?
Consider how you view the treasure of the gospel of Jesus. What value do you place on daily taking it in and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform you through the gospel into a more clear image of Jesus? Value enough to carve out daily time with Him? Value enough to speak of His goodness others? Value enough to let Jesus be your satisfaction instead of relationships, finances, or control? The man in Jesus’ story was willing to give up everything to own that treasure, digging deep to uncover it. Is any price too high for you to pay as you consider the value of the gospel and the Kingdom of Heaven?
2) In what ways is the Kingdom of Heaven like a treasure?
The cost of following Jesus is high, even Jesus said so. (Luke 9:61-62, Luke 14:33) Jesus taught that following Him would cost us everything as we learn to surrender our will to His. But the treasure we gain is not even worth comparing to the pain associated with the loss of our way and our will. (Romans 8:18) Everything is rubbish compared with the greatness of knowing Christ. Knowing Him is much like uncovering that buried treasure. The deeper we dig into His Word and the more transparent we are willing to become in the process, the more precious Jesus and His Kingdom perspective will become as well. What’s holding you back from uncovering that beautiful treasure a little more?
3) Why would Jesus use the analogy of a field?
Jesus used the analogy of His Kingdom being buried in an ordinary field. Paul, in similar fashion describes the glorious treasure of Christ being hidden away in the weak, ordinary clay jars that are our physical bodies. (2 Corinthians 4:7-11) “ But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” The valuable treasure of the gospel is what unleashes priceless Kingdom work in our lives. Again, Paul says, “(we are) always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” (2 Corinthians 4:10) Our lives may seem ordinary, repetitive even, but do not lose heart! The Kingdom work the Lord will accomplish in and through us if we surrender everything for the sake of the gospel will surpass our wildest dreams!
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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
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The love of God sheds abroad my own heart, the fire burns a warm kindle and His Love is made pure again…love Nancy as I read this.