Treasure of Eternal Consequence

Sermon Summary / Transcript

In Sunday’s sermon, Jason taught from Matthew 13:47-52, the last of Jesus’ parables. Here the kingdom of Heaven is like a net that gathers fish of every kind, and the scribe trained for the kingdom of Heaven like the master of a house who brings out treasure. 

We see in Jesus’ teaching here a certainty, a caution, and a charge.

A certainty. There is a certainty that judgment will come at Jesus’ return, that there will be a clear separation of the righteous from the evil. As in other parables, there is a sense that the kingdom is hidden, but it’s here. The net is cast now, and there will come a definite time when it will snap closed, and then the end. Just as Jesus certainly came as a baby, so he will certainly come as a judge. And there will be a permanent separation at the great white throne.

A caution. The fisherman knows good from bad at a glance, but our righteousness must be imputed to us. It is only those who believe who will be saved. The pains of hell are a certainty, and they must be preached as a caution to those who hear. We’re confused about Hell because we’ve been afraid to preach it. But more than anyone else, Jesus preached it. You can’t dismiss the teaching of the kingdom because it impacts eternally everyone. It carries with it both salvation and judgment, and so Hell is a caution that must be considered…

1. Hell is real. The New Testament refers to it over and over. Yes, God is love; but God is also just.
2. Hell is awful. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is an unquenchable fire, an everlasting torment, and outer darkness. It is separation from God himself, from both his saving grace and his common grace. And Jesus knows this, as the worst of all Hells – the cross – awaits him. 
3. Hell is everlasting. The idea of annihilation does not fit with scripture. Our resurrected bodies will be forever. The fires are unquenchable and eternal, and the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever.

A charge. The scribe who is trained in the kingdom of Heaven has been given knowledge in order to share it with others. Jesus did not fill the disciples’ brains with knowledge for themselves; rather, they were to bring out from the treasure the good things. 

From the treasures of Christ we are to share him. If we seek to grow, it is not only for our own souls but for the souls of those still out there. We bring forth from our treasures to serve the Kingdom.