Ques. Is not the treasure in Matt. 13:44 Israel? Is the Church hid in the field, or was it hid in God? Does Psa. 135:4 point on the treasure in Matt. 13:44?
Ans. "The kingdom of heaven" in its mysterious form (that is, when the King is absent, only called so in Matthew's gospel), applies to this present time. It does not apply to Israel in the past, nor in the future,- that is, after the Church is caught up.
Israel was to be a peculiar treasure, if they had obeyed Jehovah (Ex. 19.5); and they will be it in the reign of Christ, the center for His earthly glory (Psa. 135:4). It will be the Kingdom in power then. Israel was never hid in the field. They were well known, not hidden.
In Matt. 13:44 the Man found it, and hid it, then sold all that He had, and bought the field for the treasure that was in it. The field is the purchased thing there. In verses 45, 46 we find the great object of His delight, the pearl of great price (Eph. 5:25-27). This is what was hid in God, and was only revealed (Eph. 3:9) after Paul was converted.
It is important to notice that all the parables of the Kingdom of heaven apply to the Church period.
Ques. Please explain about the householder and those hired. (Matt. 20:1-16).
Ans. In this parable is shown the sovereignty of the Lord in calling and rewarding the laborers in His vineyard. It is not a question of obtaining salvation, for we do not labor for salvation. It is to teach us that the Lord is our Master. Peter had said "What shall we have therefore?" Here is the answer even to those who begin late in the day, "Go ye into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you." Laboring for Christ because we love Him, and trust Him, is better than laboring for reward. It is grace, not law. We love to do it because of His grace to us. He made us His.
Reward is encouragement to those who are serving Him with His approval. It is not the motive to lead us to serve. Those who bargained for the penny, received it. "What is right I will give you." They trusted Him. The assurance of reward is given when the Lord is the motive for the labor. If we get the reward as the motive for laboring, it falsifies the character of true service for Him. Then Peter and the disciples must learn that it is His to do with as He pleases, and therefore, many that are last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen, It is the sovereign grace of God that is the source of true blessing.
Peter was called, and a place given him by the Lord. Paul came in later on, as last, but he was a chosen vessel to unfold the heavenly mystery of Christ and the Church as a stronger testimony to grace, so the last was first, and the first last. Each has his place to fill as given by the Lord (Eph. 4:8). Again, notice, this is not salvation, but service after we are saved.