What’s it Worth?
Pastor Horton
July 26, 2026
Imagine stopping by one of those weekend rummage sales on a whim. And as you are looking around on one of the tables hidden behind some dusty and dated kitchenware, is that one priceless object of immense value to you. What would that object be? We might have differing ideas…for me it would be a Michael Jordan autographed rookie card (I don’t know if any autographed rookies of his even exist). But I would sprint to the car to get my wallet or race as fast as legally allowed to the nearest atm so that I could hurry back and purchase it.
What about you? What is worth the most to you? We may very likely have an answer depending on our situation in the moment. And, truth be told, our answers may not always hold up what you might expect a believer to answer. At least that has not been the case over the history of the Bible. Think for a moment of Korah and the 250 familiar, yet feisty, leaders of Israel who did want power and authority and who did not want to listen to God or to his representative, Moses. Rebellion brewed in their hearts. They valued control so much that they stood against the Lord, only to be swallowed up by the ground. Think for a moment of Saul looking upon David as after God’s defeat of Goliath, women came out and sang “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” And Saul’s jealous heart turned into fury “what about me! I’m the king! I’m the commander!” Praise of the people was of the highest worth to Saul. Think for a moment of Ananias and his wife Sapphira, who together sold a piece of property but that wealth was of greatest worth in the moment. So they both lied about their greedy actions – and they both died. Think for a moment of the Apostle Peter in Jerusalem during the time of the New Testament church, when he showed favoritism to certain people over others (and was corrected by Paul). He had been finding worth in those he publicly associated with.
The Bible contains a lot of these examples – yet the examples continue on even into our own lives. We have often misplaced values and chased after those things that have no worth. Like Korah and friends, we also often place worth onto our own thoughts and opinions as if God should take note and act according to our will. Like Saul, it doesn’t take much in the classroom, or on the sports field, or in the workplace to be hurt and jealous when someone else gets great praise and acclamation. Like Ananias and Sapphira, we also tend to find worth in wealth – not in giving to God but in getting for ourselves. And like Peter, we also often find worth in petty popularity games, rather than showing grace to others. The connecting line through all these examples is me and it is you and our sinful sight. We want our own kingdom designed our own way and we chase after comfort, control, approval, and wealth to fill it. And yet Jesus comes to us today, and raises our eyes to a better kingdom that is ours entirely through him.
To help us better understand worth, Jesus gives to us three parables in our reading concerning the kingdom of heaven…and it’s absolutely essential worth. Since we have three of them to discuss, it would be worth having a word of reminder: a parable is a type of speech Jesus often uses to help us understand an important point or truth from God. It’s why we know parables to be an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. And today, as Jesus speaks about the kingdom of heaven, to what is he referring to? The kingdom of heaven is not an earthly kingdom with borders, battles, and forced conquest. Nor is the kingdom of heaven of which Jesus speaks exclusively heavenly operations or inclusive only of believers. Rather, the kingdom of heaven in today’s comparison is the great realm of gospel activity: the message of salvation in Jesus, proclaimed, believed, and shared. It is God’s saving work. It is truth that you know by faith. And so see yourself today in the kingdom of heaven.
The first parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again. In his joy, he goes away and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Back in Bible times, people didn’t have the luxury of investing in a diversified portfolio. Some of their wealth might go into purchasing precious jewels or in buying livestock. Some of their wealth might be kept on them in case an invading army marches through the land (remember Israel’s location there in the crossroads of the Middle East). And some wealth might be hidden on the property, in a field, and maybe known only to the owner. And if he perishes, it stays hidden. What a find! Better than a rummage sale score, this man eagerly and joyfully obtains this great treasure.
You have such a treasure with Jesus. Born into sin – and still plagued by those daily selfseeking desires and misplaced obsessions, what we have in Christ is of the greatest worth – for with him there is forgiveness. It’s like God breaking open the treasure chest of his eternal word, and we get to marvel at the good news that we have been saved especially since we could not save ourselves. Instead of seeing shiny goblets and jewels, we get to hold in our hearts the great gospel message. Instead of hearing the clinking of coins, we get to hear a holy God say, “you are forgiven”, and stand at a casket and hear Jesus proclaim, “because I live your loved one will live”. To know that Christ acted at the cross to pay for every person’s sin, and gives life and eternity to those who believe, is to know that which is of greatest worth. Even if a person could possess the entire world itself with all its wealth and wonders, the gospel is still of greater value – because it matters into all of eternity. But you know, it also matters today. Because in this message we find our worth to God in the saving work of Jesus. And that causes us to feel joyful, appreciative, valued, and motivated to live for God. It helps us reevaluate what is truly worthwhile.
The next parable is similar, 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls. 46 When he found one very valuable pearl, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” I can’t help but compare this man to one of those individuals who come through the gym doors in the first wave of the June Jumble Days crowd – each person a treasure hunting specialist looking for particular items of worth. This man in our parable is a one of them! He is a merchant and knows what he’s looking for – at least he will know it when he finds it. He is similar to those who search the world over for different teachings and beliefs. Sometimes they even extensively church-shop for what is real and relevant. God’s word is special. It causes us to stop in our tracks. The law pulls no punches in convicting us. The gospel reassures us that God has completed what is needed for our salvation. Knowing this causes us to give up everything else in this fallen world around us. Jesus becomes our focus and our joyfilled obsession in life. We want others to have what we have in Christ. We want to hold on to what is of greatest worth, for with Jesus we have heaven.
And the third parable, in which Jesus brings home the eternal relevance, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When the net was filled, they pulled it onto the shore. They sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw the bad ones away. That is how it will be at the end of the world. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous who are among them. And they will throw the wicked into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The picture of sorting fish, bad from good, was familiar to his listeners and to his disciples. The lesson? Not all in the church are there for the correct reasons, or have a saving faith. God knows and thankfully uses exposure to the gospel to work on converting hearts and bring more to believe. Hell, however, is a reality, as is the joy of heaven. This sorting of unbelievers from believers on the basis of faith will happen on the final day. How then does God give us faith? Faith comes from hearing the message of Christ – making this message of greatest worth.
Think about what that means as you live in this realm of gospel work. What is the greatest gift we can give to our children? An active and living knowledge of what God has done for them. We are encouraged to treat the sharing of Jesus and the gifts of forgiveness and eternal life not as some depressing duty but as a delight. Knowing the value of the gospel, we can even (as said yesterday in our workshop by Mr. Eric Duve) become comfortable with being uncomfortable when sharing Jesus. Eternity is coming, and every soul matters to our Savior.
And maybe one final parable, since Jesus is on a roll with parables in this chapter of Matthew. “He said to them, ‘Therefore every expert….who has been trained as a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his treasure both new things and old things.’” What’s next for us? Imagine that you have been so richly blessed that at your next rummage sale you are able to throw open everything in your house and freely give items away and meet specific needs of those in want. God’s word is like that. We have an abundance of riches in its truth. We have so much love of God’s love to share with others. We have old and new insights in the storehouse of his word. When those we know and love have problems in this sinful place – we can run in again and again and share these priceless treasures of truth with them freely. “You are going through this? You need clarity on that? I’ve got just the thing in the reality of God’s message.” We can do that for others at our door, in our life, and in our families. And as one commentator remarked, the more a believer gives away the gospel, the more richly he or she has it!
Dear brothers and sisters in the faith….What is the gospel worth? Everything! Because Christ gave up everything for you and for your salvation. Let’s…Recognize the value of the gospel. Treasure it’s worth. Share it freely as Jesus does. Amen.
