Occasionally, I will listen to the radio while driving down the road. Recently, I was listening to a country station when a song caught my ear. The song has a rather odd title—it’s entitled, “Buy Dirt.” The lyrics started out with an older man giving counsel to a young man who’s starting out on his own. The old man asked him, “What you been up to lately?” The young man replied, “Chasing a dollar.” Then, the old man gave him some sage advice that had some definite Christian overtones. The song continued as the old man recommended: “If you want my two cents on making a dollar count. . . Buy dirt.” Then, in the chorus, the old man elaborated as follows: “Find the one you can't live without / Get a ring, let your knee hit the ground / Do what you love, but call it work / And throw a little money in the plate at church / Send your prayers up and your roots down deep / Add a few limbs to your family tree / And watch their pencil marks, and the grass in the yard all grow up / 'Cause the truth about it is, It all goes by real quick / You can’t buy happiness. . . / But you can buy dirt.”[1]
After listening to the song, I thought, “Well, that’s a strange thing to say. Why would anyone ‘buy dirt’”? After I thought about it for a little while, I realized that the old man’s advice was pretty good. But, God’s Word gives similar—yet far more important—advice about “buying dirt.” The best advice about “buying dirt” is found in one of Jesus’ parables. In fact, it is one of His shorter parables. Jesus said: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Matthew 13:44 (NIV) This parable is often paired with the one that comes right after it in Matthew’s Gospel. The second parable goes like this: 45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. 46 He discovered a real bargain—a pearl of great value—and sold everything he owned to purchase it!” Matthew 13:45-46 (TLB)
So, what is Jesus teaching in these two parables? First, it is helpful to understand what these parables are not about. They are not about witnessing to others—because Jesus would never want you to hide the “treasure” or the “pearl” once you gain their possession. The parable of the hidden treasure is not about the moral implications of buying a field without disclosing to the seller the discovery of the buried “treasure.” The parable of the precious pearl is not about sharp business dealings whereby the merchant takes advantage of a seller who is unaware of the pearl’s great value. And neither parable is about gaining your salvation through “works.” In this regard, the old man in the “Buy Dirt” song is quite correct—“you can’t buy happiness” anymore that you can “buy” your way into Heaven. So, if you have any of these concerns, you need to strip them away if you want to understand the great lesson that Jesus gives us in these parables. Now, having clarified what the parables are not about, let’s move on to what they do teach.
Just to be clear, both parables reflect realistic circumstances from a factual point of view. It may seem unlikely to us today that someone would take something of great value and bury it in a field. Why would anyone do that? Well, in ancient times there were some very good reasons to do such a thing. Bear in mind that Palestine was, and still is, a land of great turmoil. Ancient invaders would come rushing in, and looting was one of their favorite past times. People often buried their valuables in secluded fields at locations known only to themselves in order to keep them from the hands of these raiders. However, if the owner had the misfortune of being killed by the invading troops, these hidden treasures could remain undiscovered for a very long time.[2] So, the facts stated in Jesus’ parable of the hidden treasure would have not sounded the least bit unusual to the people of 1st century Palestine.
The same holds true for the parable of the pearl. It may appear strange to us that the merchant would have had any difficulty finding a pearl of sufficient worth to meet his needs. For us, we’d simply head to Richmond or Charlottesville to most any jewelry store in order to find what we might be looking for. But, flawless pearls in Palestine during Jesus’ day were a rarity. The closest source for pearls was the Red Sea. But, pearls from this area were generally inferior in quality. To find any large, high-quality pearls, a merchant likely would have traveled a great distance to the Persian Gulf, or even as far as Ceylon or India. Thus, both parables presented factual situations that Jesus’ audience would have found quite realistic.[3]
When we examine the circumstances presented in these two parables, both describe the Kingdom of Heaven as something that is hidden from our immediate view. As such, it is a spiritual kingdom that is partially available to us in the here and now, but its full enjoyment is yet to come upon our entering eternity. It’s as Paul described: 12 “We can see and understand only a little about God now, as if we were peering at his reflection in a poor mirror; but someday we are going to see him in his completeness, face to face. Now all that I know is hazy and blurred, but then I will see everything clearly, just as clearly as God sees into my heart right now.” 1st Corinthians 13:12 (TLB)
To access God’s Heavenly Kingdom, you first have to find it. These parables show two different ways that this happens. Notice that, in the parable of the hidden treasure, the man apparently happened upon the treasure in the field. He wasn’t necessarily searching for anything when he found the treasure. It was almost by accident that he discovered the enormous prize as he stumbled upon it. This bears out God’s Word given by the Prophet Isaiah, when the LORD said: “I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me.” Isaiah 65:1 (NIV)[4] That’s the way it is regarding some people’s path into the Kingdom. They blunder along in life so self-absorbed in pursuing their own little worldly desires that they become distracted from the one thing of greatest worth. Again, Isaiah described this very thing when he proclaimed: “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.” Isaiah 53:6 (NLT2) [5] But, God wants everyone to have the chance to get on the right path. Toward this end, God uses things in life to get our attention. He does this in many different ways depending upon the heart and circumstances of each individual. Sometimes He plans things in a manner that put certain people in our paths who challenge us to make a better choice in following God’s ways instead of those of the world. Sometimes God finds it necessary to have us go through those difficult trials of life in order to direct our attention to the hidden treasure instead of staring at the world’s fake jewelry. And then, having directed our focus on the treasure, we are confronted with a decision: Do we pursue acquiring this infinitely valuable thing God has placed before us, or do we just continue stumbling along aimlessly—failing to discover the Life’s True Treasure and leaving it behind?
The men in these two parables made the right choice. Once the man in the field came across the hidden treasure, he recognized that it had incomparable value—nothing could have any greater worth. But, he knew that if the owner of the field saw him taking the treasure away, then he’d find himself entangled in a lawsuit. He didn’t want that—that would only have delayed getting the treasure. Realizing that this was the chance of a lifetime, he knew he must act quickly to cash in on this most amazing deal. He couldn’t afford to blow it. So, he determined that the only way to secure the treasure was to put it back in the ground and then do everything within his power to buy that field. Once he had acquired control and ownership of the field, the treasure would be safely in his possession. And when he had secured that hidden treasure, he knew he’d be “rich” beyond anyone’s imagination. Warren Buffet would be like a pauper compared to him!
The merchant who purchased the pearl of great worth had a similar experience. But, there was one major difference between these two men. Unlike the man in the field who wasn’t looking for anything when he stumbled upon the treasure, the merchant was deliberately and actively searching for the pearl. He had seen other pearls and knew they were inadequate. In his heart, he knew there was something infinitely better out there and he was determined to find it. And so, this merchant set out on a long and faithful quest to find the One Pearl that would satisfy his longings.[6] While the merchant was engaged in this prolonged, intense search, he was not aware of it, but all along God was seeking him as well. The merchant was like those of whom Jesus spoke when saying: 7 “Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks will receive, and anyone who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to those who knock.” Matthew 7:7-8 (TEV) [7]
We don’t know where the merchant found his pearl, but he presumably went to great lengths to find it. Upon finally seeing it, he knew he’d never find a better pearl to possess. Like the man in the field, he too sold everything he had and exchanged the sales proceeds for the most valuable pearl. The merchant was completely satisfied that what he was doing in buying the pearl made good business sense. He recognized with absolute certainty that the value of this particular pearl far exceeded the entirety of all his possessions he sold in order to buy it.
So, what is the lesson that Jesus would have us take away from all this? Well, these parables indicate that God was calling out to both men. He was calling out to them something found in Isaiah 55. There, God cries out: “Come, everyone who is thirsty— here is water! Come, you that have no money— buy grain and eat! Come! Buy wine and milk— it will cost you nothing!” Isaiah 55:1 (TEV) Yes, it’s true—There is no cost. This is the same call Jesus makes to you today when He proclaim: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 (NIV) Yes, Christ offers you to come and have your spiritual hunger satisfied, and your dry and weary soul refreshed with His Living Water. It will cost you nothing. . . nothing except the COST OF DISCIPLESHIP.
What is discipleship, and furthermore—what is its cost? Discipleship is the commitment to follow Jesus—but, not at a distance, and not with half-hearted steps. Rather, discipleship is required of anyone who desires God’s hidden treasure and His pearl of eternal value. Those words from the Book of Isaiah are absolutely true. Discipleship is available to everyone. You don’t need deep pockets filled with cash to buy it. It doesn’t matter how large or small your bank account may be. You don’t need a credit card or Pay Pal. All you need is an open heart—one willing to allow Jesus inside. Because if you will let Him in, He will empower you to pay the cost of discipleship.
Now, someone will invariably complain: “But, you said earlier it doesn’t cost anything!” No, it won’t cost a dime. But, it will require a trade. And, it’s a trade that is available to everyone. “A trade of what?” the question will come. It was the trade that the man who discovered the hidden treasure and the one who found the priceless pearl so willingly made. This is really the key to unlocking both parables. What is symbolized by the actions of the two men when they proceeded to sell everything they had? (Matthew 13:44, 46) What was it that they were getting rid of in order to take advantage of the amazing deal set before them? They were disposing of their past lifestyles. They were abandoning the things in their lives that were marked with sin—ridding themselves of all those distractions from following the path to the Kingdom of Heaven. In other words, they were repenting. Martin Luther, the great Reformation theologian and pastor of the 16th century, called this process the “Great Exchange.” It is the “Great Exchange” whereby our sins are taken on by Jesus on the Cross and exchanged for the righteousness of Christ which is credited to us.[8] Paul explains it this way: “For God took the sinless Christ and poured into Him our sins. Then, in exchange, He poured God’s goodness into us!” 2nd Corinthians 5:21 (TLB) In the parables, these two men exchanged their old sinful lives for the most prized treasure, the most precious pearl of all—JESUS CHRIST! THEY COULDN’T HAVE MADE A BETTER TRADE!
When someone truly surrenders their lives to Christ, they will never find themselves heading back to customer service with their treasure or pearl demanding to get their money back. As the pastor and theologian, James Montgomery Boice, once said: “It is never that way. In the exchange described by these parables, the men who made their purchases received a bargain. They made the deal of their lives, their fortune, and they were happy. So it will be for you. You are not called to poverty in Christ but to the greatest spiritual wealth. You are not called to disappointment but to fulfillment. You are not called to sorrow but to joy. How could it be otherwise when the treasure is the only Son of God? How can the outcome be bad when it means salvation?” [9]
Now, there is one additional lesson we do not want to miss. The parable of the hidden treasure has an additional component beyond that of the parable of the pearl. This additional element relates to the “field”. The field in the parable also symbolizes something. What is it? Well, it points us to a reality that too many new Christians don’t seem to understand. Some new converts have a misguided notion that once they become Christians, life is going to be a bed of roses. But, when the man sold everything he owned in order buy the field, he was getting a field with an enormous treasure hidden in it. But, it was also a field with a very rough landscape. You see, the field represents all of those “losses, hardships, and persecutions that you can expect to endure as a Christian in this world.” [10] But, you must accept the field in order to have the treasure. It’s the price you pay for choosing the GREATEST OF TREASURES over the worthless trinkets of the world. But, that price is well worth it, because in both parables the men came to understand that they were in need of that priceless treasure and that precious pearl—JESUS CHRIST. They were in need of him just as you and I are in need of Him. And, we are in need of Jesus because He has paid for something that we could not possibly pay for. Jesus paid it all on the Cross when He shed His blood for your sins and mine.
Common sense tells you that people who find a great treasure only to kick it aside and walk away are the greatest fools of all. And yet, so many do exactly that today by rejecting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. People who make such an eternally fatal choice see the treasure and the pearl—but, they decide it will cost too much to acquire these priceless things. They would have to change their priorities and give up their worldly lifestyles. It would be time-consuming and require commitment and effort. They could end up losing some friends or offending family members. Yes, the treasure would make them truly rich beyond their wildest dreams, but the life changes involved would be far too high of a price to pay—or, so they reason.[11] What insane reasoning! It would be like finding the winning mega million jackpot ticket for a billion-dollar prize and then throwing the winning ticket in the trash! Such foolish people need to have a spiritual, emotional and mental attitude adjustment. They need to come around to King David’s and the Apostle Paul’s way of thinking. David proclaimed: “The rarest treasures of life are found in [God’s] truth. That’s why I prize God’s word like others prize the finest gold. Nothing brings the soul such sweetness as seeking His Living Words.” Psalm 19:10 (Passion NT) 127 “Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, 128 and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.” Psalm 119:127-128 (NIV) And, Paul added: 13 “No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. 14 I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to Heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.” Philippians 3:13-14 (TLB) Both David and Paul are assuring you that God’s Treasure, His Pearl—the prize that God has for you in Heaven—is infinitely better than anything the world can ever offer. Accordingly, if you exchange the world’s ways for God’s ways, you will never be disappointed. Those who cling to the world’s so-called “treasures” will be bitterly disappointed. For as Jesus warns: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26 (NIV)
I like that country song, by Jordan Davis—“Buy Dirt.” In fact, it’s got a lot going for it. But, don’t you buy just any old field that’s filled with the world’s dirt. God has a field with a treasure awaiting you. All you have to do is claim it by selling the old way of life and trading it for a new one in Christ. Once you do, let your spiritual roots sink down deep into God’s rich soil. There you’ll find the treasure of Jesus Christ. Both of Jesus’ parables begin with saying: “THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE THIS. . .” Indeed, it is—because when you fully buy-in to the treasures of God, then eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven will be yours. And, nothing on this earth could ever compare to that!
Let us pray.
Darvin Satterwhite, Pastor
Forest Hill Baptist Church
July 30, 2023
©2023 All Rights Reserved as follows:
Anyone is at liberty to use this sermon or any portions thereof for educational or religious purposes, with or without credit. The pastor believes the material presented herein to be true to the teaching of Scripture, and desires to further, not restrict, its potential use as an aid in the study of God’s Word. The publication of this material is a grace ministry of Forest Hill Baptist Church in Louisa, Virginia.
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[1] “Buy Dirt,” from the album, Buy Dirt, performed by Jordan Davis, featuring Luke Bryan; songwriters: Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins, Jordan Davis, Jacob J. Davis, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc. released May 21, 2021.
[2] Kistemaker, Simon J. The Parables: Understanding the Stories Jesus Told. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, p. 58.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Boice, James Montgomery. Boice Expositional Commentary - The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1: The King and His Kingdom (Matthew 1-17). Paperback ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2006. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
[5] Weber, Stuart. Holman New Testament Commentary - Matthew. Edited by Max Anders. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 2000. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
[6] Boice, James Montgomery. Boice Expositional Commentary - The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1: The King and His Kingdom (Matthew 1-17). Paperback ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2006. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
[7] Ibid.
[8] “The Great Exchange”? Ligonier Ministries, https://www.ligonier.org/ (February 8, 2005), accessed July 28, 2023.
[9] Boice, James Montgomery. Boice Expositional Commentary - The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1: The King and His Kingdom (Matthew 1-17). Paperback ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2006. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
[10] Weber, Stuart. Holman New Testament Commentary - Matthew. Edited by Max Anders. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 2000. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
[11] Boice, James Montgomery. Boice Expositional Commentary - The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1: The King and His Kingdom (Matthew 1-17). Paperback ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2006. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
