He Who Has Ears, Let Him Hear

I am currently preaching a series of messages on selected parables of Jesus.  It's funny how we often read the parables and want to identify ourselves as the hero of the narrative.  Instead, we should identify Jesus as the hero.  We are often the one that needs to be rescued.  This Sunday I will be reading from Matthew 13:44-50 which begins with the "Parable of the Hidden Treasure."  It's easy to think of ourselves as the man who found treasure and we are supposed to sacrifice and sell all we have to purchase this treasure (which we would suggest is Christ).  There are several problems with this view (which by the way is the traditional view of the passage).  For example, salvation or Christ are not something to be purchased.  Salvation is a gift that God has offered us.  When we understand that Christ is the One that gave up all He had to buy the field, the parable makes more sense.  We are the ones who are redeemed (i.e. purchased).  Let me encourage you to read through the parables of Jesus, only with a new lens.  A lens that is focused on Jesus as the hero.  I hope to see you this Sunday!

Click here to watch the Parables sermon series.