Questions and Answers: The Church Hid in the Field or in God?

From: Questions and Answers in Christian Treasury

Narrator: Chris Genthree

• 1 min. read • grade level: 7

Ques. —Is not the treasure in Matt. 13:44⁴⁴Again, 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) Israel? Is the Church hid in the field, or was it hid in God? Does Psa. 135:4⁴For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. (Psalm 135:4) point on to the treasure in Matt. 13:44⁴⁴Again, 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)?

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. 19:5⁵Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: (Exodus 19:5)), and they will be it in the reign of Christ, the center for His earthly glory (Psa. 135:4⁴For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. (Psalm 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. 13:44⁴⁴Again, 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) 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. 5:25-27²⁵Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ²⁶That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25‑27)). This is what was hid in God, and was only revealed (Eph. 3:9⁹And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 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.

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