Last year one of my friends, Gary Molander, published a book called ” Pursuing Christ. Creating Art.” It is one of my favorites from my 2011 book list. It is like a Mary Poppins book in that just when you think there shouldn’t be any more goodies in the book, another one falls out of it. The one I am referring to in this post is about the parables that Jesus tells in Matthew 13.

I suggest that you read the whole chapter. you can find it here.

Summarized, this is the chapter that contains Jesus’ parables about men in the field. There is a pattern to these parables

In the first one the farmer(God)  throws seed(the  gospel) out, and it lands on 4 types of soil(our hearts).

In the second one the farmer again represents God, sowing seed(again, the gospel) in the soil (our hearts), but the enemy plants weeds overnight.

In the third the farmer (representing God) sows a mustard seed(our response to the gospel) and when it grows, it is the largest plant in the field.

Now in Matthew 13:44 the 4th parable about a field and a man is told:

“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)

Gary then points out something interesting. How often do we ignore the pattern of the man in the field being God (from the previous parables), and replace that character with us. As if we are the field finding the treasure. At that point Gary moves on to discuss that the man in the field does in fact represent God, and that we are the treasure that He finds, and goes and sells everything he has (Jesus) to purchase(the cross) the the treasure (Us).

After reading that, I found myself stuck. Yes this is an overwhelming parable. I continued to think about my immediate reaction to this parable though. Previously when reading this, I fell into that category of people that would do the role reversal. That I was the one finding the treasure. So when I re-read this in context of the other parables, my mind was blown.

I want to focus on two things surrounding this role-reversal.

1. Why does the role reversal happen?

I sat and studied and scribbled for a few hours trying to come to a conclusion… this is what I came up with.

The reason why we initially switch those roles is because at our hearts base, we have this subconscious desire to add value to our lives. We initially feel like we are not good enough, and that we need to make ourselves more appealing to God. What’s crazy is that we are already valued. Any value that we needed was fulfilled on the cross. Translation: You are good enough. in all of your imperfections, sin, and shortcomings… God wants relationship with you. You mean the world to Him. End of story.

2. The flaws behind reversing these roles

In my discussions with people regarding this subject, the initial response of the majority is “I could see that, but I think it could go either way.”

I completely disagree. I don’t think that you can justify being the man in the field in this parable for a few reasons:

1. It isn’t consistent with the others.

Back in the day, this would have confused everyone listening. Jesus takes the time to explain the meaning behind 2 of the parables prior, theologians would tell you that because he offered no explanation, but used consistent descriptives, that the pattern should carry.

2. I can’t find anywhere in the Bible that the Kingdom of Heaven something that is hidden from us.

Jesus never speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven as something that we must look for, it is always readily available to us, without labor. In fact, it is so readily available to us that in Luke 17:20-21 Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven is within us.

Jesus would never have contradicted himself like that. He would have never said that the relationship he spoke of with the Father, was available to us through faith, and then tell us we have to go and dig for it. The Kingdom of God is not playing hide and seek with us…. that’s my point.

Conclusion

In the verse it says that ” in his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field. It overwhelms God to know that through giving his Son for us, that we are bought for him. Nothing overjoys the Lord more than to know that we can be brought into His presence. Notice also that it says that the man bought the entire field. He didn’t buy just the small portion containing the treasure. God purchased the entire earth, that he may find more treasure in the field. That he may bring more of his children into His presence. Wow.. thats love.