WEBVTT

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 We're going to continue on in our Matthew series.

00:00:04.299 --> 00:00:08.060
 Today's passage is continuing on in the parable series,

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! We're in verses 44 to 52.

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 If you don't have a Bible and would like to use one,

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 please raise your hand and we'd be happy to give you a Bible that you can use and keep.

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 Again, we're in chapter 13, verses 44 to 52.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's word.

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 Heavenly Father,

00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:58.060
 you are this great, precious, matchless treasure.

00:00:58.060 --> 00:01:00.780
 The best thing that we have ever found.

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 But life is distracting.

00:01:09.600 --> 00:01:10.640
 Life is hard.

00:01:12.340 --> 00:01:13.379
 We have an enemy.

00:01:15.079 --> 00:01:18.480
 A fierce enemy that's seeking to distract us.

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 Take our eyes away from the rich treasure that we have found.

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 I pray, Heavenly Father, please use my weak words,

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 this short time,

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 to refresh anew

00:01:35.019 --> 00:01:38.599
 our evaluation

00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:41.099
 of the kingdom of heaven.

00:01:41.099 --> 00:01:44.199
 that, Holy Spirit,

00:01:44.199 --> 00:01:46.099
 you would be in this place.

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 You would fill us

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 so that we would have eyes to see

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 and ears to hear

00:01:53.419 --> 00:01:58.539
 that your kingdom is worth everything.

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 Make us a people united in this one thing.

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 that we would just have this one thing

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 and we would lose all else

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 in joy to gain this one thing.

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 Make it true of us now.

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 Help us to come back to our first loves.

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 Speak through me.

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 I am a weak man

00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:31.079
 with so many infirmities,

00:02:31.500 --> 00:02:32.120
 deficiencies,

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 but you are perfect.

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 You are strong.

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 Be glorified through me.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 If you are able,

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 please rise

00:02:46.120 --> 00:02:48.300
 to honor the reading of God's word.

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 Starting in verse 44.

00:02:51.580 --> 00:02:54.980
 The kingdom of heaven

00:02:54.980 --> 00:02:56.500
 is like treasure

00:02:56.500 --> 00:02:57.740
 hidden in a field

00:02:57.740 --> 00:02:59.480
 which a man found

00:02:59.480 --> 00:03:00.360
 and covered up.

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 Then,

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 in his joy,

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 in his joy,

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 he goes

00:03:06.780 --> 00:03:08.320
 and sells all that he has

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 and buys that field.

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 Again,

00:03:11.480 --> 00:03:12.460
 the kingdom of heaven

00:03:12.460 --> 00:03:13.640
 is like a merchant

00:03:13.640 --> 00:03:15.460
 in search of fine pearls

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 who,

00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:18.080
 on finding one pearl

00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:19.180
 of great value,

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 went and sold

00:03:20.500 --> 00:03:21.439
 all that he had

00:03:21.439 --> 00:03:22.099
 and bought it.

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 Again,

00:03:24.979 --> 00:03:26.000
 the kingdom of heaven

00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:27.340
 is like a net

00:03:27.340 --> 00:03:28.620
 that was thrown

00:03:28.620 --> 00:03:29.359
 into the sea

00:03:29.359 --> 00:03:30.419
 and gathered fish

00:03:30.419 --> 00:03:31.800
 of every kind.

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 When it was full,

00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:36.400
 men drew it ashore

00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:37.579
 and sat down

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 and sorted the good

00:03:38.699 --> 00:03:39.539
 into containers

00:03:39.539 --> 00:03:41.400
 but threw away the bad.

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 So it will be

00:03:43.639 --> 00:03:45.139
 at the end of the age.

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 The angels will come out

00:03:47.539 --> 00:03:48.979
 and separate the evil

00:03:48.979 --> 00:03:50.199
 from the righteous

00:03:50.199 --> 00:03:51.000
 and throw them

00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:52.859
 into the fiery furnace.

00:03:53.719 --> 00:03:54.899
 In that place,

00:03:55.259 --> 00:03:56.119
 there will be weeping

00:03:56.119 --> 00:03:57.019
 and gnashing

00:03:57.019 --> 00:03:58.219
 of teeth.

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 Have you understood

00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:03.099
 all these things?

00:04:05.099 --> 00:04:06.319
 They said to him,

00:04:06.659 --> 00:04:06.899
 yes.

00:04:08.179 --> 00:04:09.399
 And he said to them,

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 therefore,

00:04:10.419 --> 00:04:11.479
 every scribe

00:04:11.479 --> 00:04:12.739
 who has been trained

00:04:12.739 --> 00:04:14.239
 for the kingdom of heaven

00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:15.780
 is like a master

00:04:15.780 --> 00:04:16.699
 of a house

00:04:16.699 --> 00:04:18.120
 who brings out

00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:18.920
 of his treasure

00:04:18.920 --> 00:04:19.759
 what is new

00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:21.439
 and what is old.

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 This is God's holy

00:04:23.259 --> 00:04:24.300
 and authoritative word.

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 You may be seated.

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 Yeah,

00:04:32.019 --> 00:04:33.179
 you can throw

00:04:33.179 --> 00:04:34.000
 all that stuff out.

00:04:35.619 --> 00:04:36.079
 Those

00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:37.519
 simple words

00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:39.079
 would come

00:04:39.079 --> 00:04:39.739
 to haunt

00:04:39.739 --> 00:04:41.199
 James Howells

00:04:41.199 --> 00:04:41.959
 for the next

00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:43.439
 12 years

00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:44.059
 of his life.

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 Because of that

00:04:46.159 --> 00:04:48.359
 all too common mistake

00:04:48.359 --> 00:04:49.579
 of just

00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:50.279
 mistakenly

00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:51.039
 throwing out something,

00:04:51.919 --> 00:04:52.739
 he has been

00:04:52.739 --> 00:04:54.819
 on a decade-long journey.

00:04:54.819 --> 00:04:56.079
 to retrieve

00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:57.240
 that piece of trash

00:04:57.240 --> 00:04:58.379
 who's made

00:04:58.379 --> 00:04:59.259
 his new home

00:04:59.259 --> 00:05:01.360
 at the local city landfill.

00:05:03.099 --> 00:05:04.139
 His plan?

00:05:05.379 --> 00:05:06.300
 Hire a bunch

00:05:06.300 --> 00:05:06.879
 of lawyers.

00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:08.600
 Beg

00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:09.620
 and plead

00:05:09.620 --> 00:05:10.779
 the local city council

00:05:10.779 --> 00:05:12.019
 to allow him

00:05:12.019 --> 00:05:12.759
 to purchase

00:05:12.759 --> 00:05:13.839
 that dumpster,

00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:14.939
 that landfill.

00:05:16.120 --> 00:05:16.680
 Fly

00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:18.279
 specialized drones

00:05:18.279 --> 00:05:20.100
 with infrared cameras

00:05:20.100 --> 00:05:21.439
 to find

00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:22.699
 this piece of trash.

00:05:23.699 --> 00:05:24.219
 Send out

00:05:24.220 --> 00:05:24.720
 a pack

00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:25.080
 of those

00:05:25.080 --> 00:05:26.060
 Boston Dynamic

00:05:26.060 --> 00:05:26.840
 robot dogs.

00:05:26.900 --> 00:05:27.760
 You guys know the kind.

00:05:27.840 --> 00:05:28.480
 The ones that could do

00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:29.020
 backflips.

00:05:30.280 --> 00:05:30.760
 Excavate

00:05:30.760 --> 00:05:32.280
 tens of thousands

00:05:32.280 --> 00:05:33.000
 of tons

00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:33.660
 of trash

00:05:33.660 --> 00:05:35.560
 cart by cart

00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:37.060
 to a scanner

00:05:37.060 --> 00:05:38.280
 trained by AI

00:05:38.280 --> 00:05:39.040
 to find

00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:40.460
 this piece of trash.

00:05:41.500 --> 00:05:42.040
 Finally,

00:05:42.220 --> 00:05:42.900
 install a

00:05:42.900 --> 00:05:43.480
 backup

00:05:43.480 --> 00:05:44.700
 magnetic belt

00:05:44.700 --> 00:05:46.180
 to capture,

00:05:46.620 --> 00:05:47.080
 to catch

00:05:47.080 --> 00:05:48.040
 any kind of

00:05:48.040 --> 00:05:48.560
 leftover

00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:50.440
 metallic objects.

00:05:50.439 --> 00:05:50.500
 house.

00:05:51.699 --> 00:05:52.439
 He's willing

00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:53.060
 to invest

00:05:53.060 --> 00:05:54.100
 millions

00:05:54.100 --> 00:05:55.060
 and millions

00:05:55.060 --> 00:05:55.620
 of dollars

00:05:55.620 --> 00:05:56.319
 and thousands

00:05:56.319 --> 00:05:56.879
 of hours

00:05:56.879 --> 00:05:57.319
 of power

00:05:57.319 --> 00:05:58.360
 to find

00:05:58.360 --> 00:05:59.079
 this piece

00:05:59.079 --> 00:05:59.519
 of trash

00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:00.240
 so small

00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:01.160
 that it just

00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:01.920
 got mixed in

00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:02.600
 with the rest

00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:03.180
 of his everyday

00:06:03.180 --> 00:06:03.660
 trash.

00:06:04.980 --> 00:06:05.819
 To his

00:06:05.819 --> 00:06:06.319
 overly

00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:07.379
 engineered plan,

00:06:07.959 --> 00:06:08.579
 Howell said,

00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:09.420
 and I quote,

00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:11.019
 this seems

00:06:11.019 --> 00:06:11.680
 logical.

00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:14.659
 But this man

00:06:14.659 --> 00:06:15.540
 looks crazy

00:06:15.540 --> 00:06:16.060
 until you

00:06:16.060 --> 00:06:16.879
 understand what

00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:17.360
 he was looking

00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:17.639
 for.

00:06:19.020 --> 00:06:19.860
 Back in

00:06:19.860 --> 00:06:20.660
 2013,

00:06:20.660 --> 00:06:21.699
 he accidentally

00:06:21.699 --> 00:06:22.400
 threw out

00:06:22.400 --> 00:06:23.400
 an office

00:06:23.400 --> 00:06:24.160
 hard drive

00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:25.460
 which contained

00:06:25.460 --> 00:06:26.180
 his only

00:06:26.180 --> 00:06:27.500
 copy of

00:06:27.500 --> 00:06:28.100
 a 51

00:06:28.100 --> 00:06:28.780
 character

00:06:28.780 --> 00:06:29.360
 password

00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:30.460
 to his

00:06:30.460 --> 00:06:31.780
 crypto wallet,

00:06:32.400 --> 00:06:33.020
 his Bitcoin

00:06:33.020 --> 00:06:33.400
 wallet.

00:06:35.080 --> 00:06:35.460
 You see,

00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:36.259
 Howells was

00:06:36.259 --> 00:06:36.720
 one of the

00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:37.340
 first people

00:06:37.340 --> 00:06:37.939
 in the world

00:06:37.939 --> 00:06:38.720
 to start

00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:39.480
 mining for

00:06:39.480 --> 00:06:39.900
 Bitcoin

00:06:39.900 --> 00:06:41.100
 and in doing

00:06:41.100 --> 00:06:41.720
 so he

00:06:41.720 --> 00:06:42.580
 amassed

00:06:42.580 --> 00:06:43.960
 an incalculable

00:06:43.960 --> 00:06:44.420
 fortune.

00:06:45.520 --> 00:06:46.080
 A fortune

00:06:46.080 --> 00:06:46.420
 that is

00:06:46.420 --> 00:06:47.220
 currently valued

00:06:47.220 --> 00:06:48.780
 at $800

00:06:48.780 --> 00:06:49.900
 million.

00:06:52.500 --> 00:06:52.980
 Now,

00:06:53.100 --> 00:06:53.740
 I still think

00:06:53.740 --> 00:06:54.080
 that Howell

00:06:54.080 --> 00:06:54.580
 should probably

00:06:54.580 --> 00:06:55.200
 just cut his

00:06:55.200 --> 00:06:55.780
 losses and

00:06:55.780 --> 00:06:56.700
 move on

00:06:56.700 --> 00:06:57.000
 with his

00:06:57.000 --> 00:06:57.340
 life,

00:06:57.460 --> 00:06:58.600
 but it

00:06:58.600 --> 00:06:58.900
 makes a

00:06:58.900 --> 00:06:59.140
 little bit

00:06:59.140 --> 00:06:59.820
 more sense

00:06:59.820 --> 00:07:00.360
 of why

00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:00.780
 he would

00:07:00.780 --> 00:07:01.280
 go to

00:07:01.280 --> 00:07:01.940
 such things

00:07:01.940 --> 00:07:02.580
 to find

00:07:02.580 --> 00:07:03.520
 this little

00:07:03.520 --> 00:07:04.080
 tiny

00:07:04.080 --> 00:07:05.180
 hard drive.

00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:07.400
 You see,

00:07:07.500 --> 00:07:08.280
 our actions

00:07:08.280 --> 00:07:10.380
 reflect what

00:07:10.380 --> 00:07:10.960
 we value

00:07:10.960 --> 00:07:11.440
 most.

00:07:12.780 --> 00:07:13.580
 We shape

00:07:13.580 --> 00:07:14.500
 our entire

00:07:14.500 --> 00:07:15.200
 lives

00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:16.240
 around

00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:17.319
 what we

00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:17.659
 value.

00:07:18.839 --> 00:07:19.519
 Our

00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:20.079
 schedules,

00:07:21.159 --> 00:07:21.479
 budgets,

00:07:22.420 --> 00:07:22.959
 thoughts,

00:07:24.019 --> 00:07:24.240
 our

00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:24.860
 conversations,

00:07:25.019 --> 00:07:25.139
 our

00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:25.680
 relationships,

00:07:26.039 --> 00:07:27.240
 they all

00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:27.800
 display on

00:07:27.800 --> 00:07:28.480
 the outside

00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:29.259
 what we

00:07:29.259 --> 00:07:30.259
 value on

00:07:30.259 --> 00:07:30.980
 the inside.

00:07:33.079 --> 00:07:34.060
 Someone else

00:07:34.060 --> 00:07:34.419
 didn't know

00:07:34.419 --> 00:07:35.000
 anything about

00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:35.500
 you but

00:07:35.500 --> 00:07:36.419
 saw a

00:07:36.419 --> 00:07:37.259
 snapshot of

00:07:37.259 --> 00:07:38.120
 your life

00:07:38.120 --> 00:07:38.719
 this past

00:07:38.719 --> 00:07:39.039
 week.

00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:40.180
 What would

00:07:40.180 --> 00:07:40.919
 he or she

00:07:40.919 --> 00:07:42.379
 think about

00:07:42.379 --> 00:07:43.159
 what you

00:07:43.159 --> 00:07:43.540
 value?

00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:46.740
 In our

00:07:46.740 --> 00:07:47.480
 passage this

00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:47.839
 morning,

00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:48.759
 Jesus wraps

00:07:48.759 --> 00:07:49.459
 up his

00:07:49.459 --> 00:07:50.659
 discourse about

00:07:50.659 --> 00:07:51.139
 the kingdom

00:07:51.139 --> 00:07:52.040
 of heaven by

00:07:52.040 --> 00:07:52.759
 making one

00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:54.500
 simple point.

00:07:55.860 --> 00:07:56.540
 The kingdom

00:07:56.540 --> 00:07:57.319
 of heaven

00:07:57.319 --> 00:07:58.079
 and its

00:07:58.079 --> 00:07:59.519
 king are

00:07:59.519 --> 00:07:59.839
 worth

00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:00.439
 everything.

00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:02.500
 The kingdom

00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:03.300
 of heaven

00:08:03.300 --> 00:08:04.379
 and its

00:08:04.379 --> 00:08:05.980
 king are

00:08:05.980 --> 00:08:06.219
 worth

00:08:06.219 --> 00:08:06.659
 everything.

00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:08.819
 One of the

00:08:08.819 --> 00:08:09.680
 repeated words

00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:10.159
 in this

00:08:10.159 --> 00:08:10.959
 parable is the

00:08:10.959 --> 00:08:12.379
 word all

00:08:12.379 --> 00:08:13.500
 or every.

00:08:15.019 --> 00:08:15.560
 So in the

00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:16.279
 final four

00:08:16.279 --> 00:08:16.939
 parables of

00:08:16.939 --> 00:08:17.459
 this chapter,

00:08:17.620 --> 00:08:18.279
 we'll understand

00:08:18.279 --> 00:08:18.659
 how the

00:08:18.659 --> 00:08:19.259
 kingdom of

00:08:19.259 --> 00:08:19.719
 heaven is

00:08:19.719 --> 00:08:20.659
 all

00:08:20.659 --> 00:08:21.599
 rewarding,

00:08:22.919 --> 00:08:23.500
 all

00:08:23.500 --> 00:08:24.139
 reckoning,

00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:25.419
 and finally

00:08:25.419 --> 00:08:26.060
 all

00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:26.919
 revealing.

00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:29.620
 Our

00:08:29.620 --> 00:08:30.139
 passage this

00:08:30.139 --> 00:08:30.679
 morning opens

00:08:30.679 --> 00:08:31.199
 with two

00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:32.079
 short parables

00:08:32.079 --> 00:08:33.179
 starting with

00:08:33.179 --> 00:08:33.659
 the parable

00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:34.120
 of the

00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:34.379
 hidden

00:08:34.379 --> 00:08:34.879
 treasure.

00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:36.559
 Verse 44,

00:08:36.699 --> 00:08:37.139
 the kingdom

00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:37.840
 of heaven is

00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:38.819
 compared to

00:08:38.819 --> 00:08:39.600
 a treasure of

00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:40.840
 inestimable

00:08:40.840 --> 00:08:41.960
 worth that a

00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:42.620
 man finds

00:08:42.620 --> 00:08:43.580
 buried in a

00:08:43.580 --> 00:08:43.860
 field.

00:08:44.980 --> 00:08:45.480
 Here,

00:08:45.580 --> 00:08:46.340
 Jesus draws on

00:08:46.340 --> 00:08:47.060
 a common

00:08:47.060 --> 00:08:48.040
 ancient practice

00:08:48.040 --> 00:08:49.300
 because remember

00:08:49.300 --> 00:08:50.040
 back then there

00:08:50.040 --> 00:08:50.680
 were no

00:08:50.680 --> 00:08:52.379
 secure banks,

00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:53.240
 no FDI

00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:54.560
 insured banks

00:08:54.560 --> 00:08:55.560
 where you

00:08:55.560 --> 00:08:56.580
 could store

00:08:56.580 --> 00:08:57.139
 all your

00:08:57.139 --> 00:08:58.060
 valued possessions.

00:08:59.159 --> 00:08:59.740
 But especially

00:08:59.740 --> 00:09:00.360
 in a period

00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:01.180
 rife with

00:09:01.180 --> 00:09:01.899
 wars,

00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:02.639
 fighting,

00:09:02.860 --> 00:09:03.360
 pilfering,

00:09:03.700 --> 00:09:04.320
 you needed

00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:05.200
 a safe place

00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:05.800
 to hide your

00:09:05.800 --> 00:09:06.160
 stuff.

00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:08.399
 And so

00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:09.179
 the best

00:09:09.179 --> 00:09:09.919
 option for

00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:10.279
 all these

00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:10.559
 people,

00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:11.039
 for a lot

00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:11.360
 of people,

00:09:11.419 --> 00:09:11.899
 was simply

00:09:11.899 --> 00:09:12.379
 just to

00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:13.360
 pick up a

00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:13.699
 spade,

00:09:13.819 --> 00:09:14.360
 pick up a

00:09:14.360 --> 00:09:14.620
 shovel,

00:09:14.779 --> 00:09:15.600
 and dig

00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:17.719
 so they

00:09:17.719 --> 00:09:18.139
 could hide

00:09:18.139 --> 00:09:18.679
 their treasures

00:09:18.679 --> 00:09:19.500
 underground.

00:09:20.679 --> 00:09:21.259
 And if the

00:09:21.259 --> 00:09:22.079
 original owner

00:09:22.079 --> 00:09:23.039
 passed away

00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:24.240
 before retrieving

00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:24.899
 it, a

00:09:24.899 --> 00:09:25.419
 treasure could

00:09:25.419 --> 00:09:26.139
 very easily

00:09:26.139 --> 00:09:27.419
 be hidden

00:09:27.419 --> 00:09:28.179
 for a very

00:09:28.179 --> 00:09:28.860
 long time.

00:09:29.899 --> 00:09:30.419
 And it

00:09:30.419 --> 00:09:30.759
 seems like

00:09:30.759 --> 00:09:31.279
 that's the

00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:31.879
 case in

00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:32.839
 this parable.

00:09:33.439 --> 00:09:33.740
 If the

00:09:33.740 --> 00:09:34.339
 current owner

00:09:34.339 --> 00:09:35.139
 had known

00:09:35.139 --> 00:09:35.559
 that a

00:09:35.559 --> 00:09:36.279
 rich,

00:09:36.539 --> 00:09:37.039
 matchless

00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:37.819
 treasure was

00:09:37.819 --> 00:09:38.600
 buried in

00:09:38.600 --> 00:09:39.340
 his field,

00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:39.799
 would he

00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:40.620
 have told

00:09:40.620 --> 00:09:40.799
 it?

00:09:43.740 --> 00:09:44.460
 Now, Jesus

00:09:44.460 --> 00:09:44.919
 doesn't give

00:09:44.919 --> 00:09:45.580
 us a lot of

00:09:45.580 --> 00:09:46.419
 detail on

00:09:46.419 --> 00:09:47.279
 the back

00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:47.759
 story of

00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:48.100
 this man,

00:09:48.199 --> 00:09:48.600
 how he

00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:49.039
 found it.

00:09:49.259 --> 00:09:49.860
 Details like,

00:09:49.980 --> 00:09:50.460
 who is he?

00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:52.100
 Why he was

00:09:52.100 --> 00:09:52.659
 on this field?

00:09:53.659 --> 00:09:54.220
 How did he

00:09:54.220 --> 00:09:54.779
 find this?

00:09:55.500 --> 00:09:56.080
 Because that's

00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:56.500
 all going to

00:09:56.500 --> 00:09:57.340
 detract away

00:09:57.340 --> 00:09:57.919
 from his

00:09:57.919 --> 00:09:59.299
 main singular

00:09:59.299 --> 00:09:59.720
 point.

00:10:01.080 --> 00:10:01.779
 Regardless of

00:10:01.779 --> 00:10:02.659
 the circumstances,

00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:03.659
 this man

00:10:03.659 --> 00:10:04.179
 finds this

00:10:04.179 --> 00:10:05.120
 one hidden

00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:05.639
 treasure.

00:10:06.419 --> 00:10:06.940
 And he

00:10:06.940 --> 00:10:08.159
 immediately

00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:09.100
 understands

00:10:09.100 --> 00:10:10.259
 its worth.

00:10:11.500 --> 00:10:11.919
 He does

00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:12.639
 a quick

00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:14.019
 cost-benefit

00:10:14.019 --> 00:10:14.500
 analysis,

00:10:14.659 --> 00:10:15.120
 does the math

00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:15.560
 in his head,

00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:16.960
 and he

00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:17.919
 easily concludes

00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:18.299
 that his

00:10:18.299 --> 00:10:19.200
 entire net

00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:19.539
 worth,

00:10:20.560 --> 00:10:21.320
 everything that

00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:21.940
 he's gained

00:10:21.940 --> 00:10:22.480
 from working

00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:23.240
 year after

00:10:23.240 --> 00:10:23.580
 year,

00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:24.740
 everything that

00:10:24.740 --> 00:10:25.399
 he's possibly

00:10:25.399 --> 00:10:26.220
 gained from

00:10:26.220 --> 00:10:26.879
 his family

00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:27.480
 inheritance,

00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:29.419
 all of that

00:10:29.419 --> 00:10:30.299
 can't compare

00:10:30.299 --> 00:10:31.759
 to the value

00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:32.220
 of the

00:10:32.220 --> 00:10:32.600
 treasure.

00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:32.639
 treasure.

00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:34.399
 So he

00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:34.860
 determines

00:10:34.860 --> 00:10:36.580
 to hide

00:10:36.580 --> 00:10:37.000
 the treasure

00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:37.360
 again,

00:10:37.820 --> 00:10:38.460
 to sell

00:10:38.460 --> 00:10:38.940
 all that

00:10:38.940 --> 00:10:39.399
 he has,

00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:40.879
 to buy

00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:41.360
 that field

00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:41.720
 so that

00:10:41.720 --> 00:10:42.019
 he can

00:10:42.019 --> 00:10:42.519
 gain it

00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:43.159
 properly,

00:10:43.379 --> 00:10:43.659
 legally.

00:10:45.620 --> 00:10:47.259
 The second

00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:47.980
 parable is

00:10:47.980 --> 00:10:49.379
 very similar

00:10:49.379 --> 00:10:49.940
 in length

00:10:49.940 --> 00:10:50.659
 and messaging.

00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:52.700
 Jesus compares

00:10:52.700 --> 00:10:53.180
 the kingdom

00:10:53.180 --> 00:10:53.560
 of heaven

00:10:53.560 --> 00:10:54.300
 to a

00:10:54.300 --> 00:10:54.779
 merchant

00:10:54.779 --> 00:10:55.639
 who is

00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:56.019
 in search

00:10:56.019 --> 00:10:56.480
 of the

00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:56.840
 finest

00:10:56.840 --> 00:10:57.800
 of pearls.

00:10:57.799 --> 00:10:59.859
 Today,

00:10:59.979 --> 00:11:00.979
 99% of

00:11:00.979 --> 00:11:01.719
 pearls are

00:11:01.719 --> 00:11:02.219
 manually

00:11:02.219 --> 00:11:02.740
 farmed.

00:11:03.299 --> 00:11:03.500
 They're

00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:04.079
 dramatically

00:11:04.079 --> 00:11:04.599
 boosting

00:11:04.599 --> 00:11:04.939
 their

00:11:04.939 --> 00:11:05.419
 production

00:11:05.419 --> 00:11:06.120
 and

00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:06.559
 dramatically

00:11:06.559 --> 00:11:07.399
 decreasing

00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:07.759
 their

00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:08.259
 value

00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:08.539
 and

00:11:08.539 --> 00:11:08.879
 rarity.

00:11:09.799 --> 00:11:10.120
 But

00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:10.959
 back then,

00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:12.120
 all the

00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:12.319
 pearls

00:11:12.319 --> 00:11:12.959
 were natural

00:11:12.959 --> 00:11:14.359
 and extremely

00:11:14.359 --> 00:11:15.299
 rare and

00:11:15.299 --> 00:11:15.919
 prized.

00:11:16.459 --> 00:11:16.919
 They were

00:11:16.919 --> 00:11:17.740
 even considered

00:11:17.740 --> 00:11:18.500
 more valuable

00:11:18.500 --> 00:11:19.399
 than gold.

00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:21.079
 There are

00:11:21.079 --> 00:11:21.759
 ancient reports

00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:22.199
 that tell

00:11:22.199 --> 00:11:22.819
 of pearls

00:11:22.819 --> 00:11:23.120
 that were

00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:23.819
 worth more

00:11:23.819 --> 00:11:24.439
 than tens

00:11:24.439 --> 00:11:25.059
 of thousands

00:11:25.059 --> 00:11:25.679
 and tens

00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:26.319
 of millions

00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:26.940
 even

00:11:26.940 --> 00:11:28.100
 of dollars

00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:28.740
 in modern

00:11:28.740 --> 00:11:29.200
 currency.

00:11:30.620 --> 00:11:31.120
 Some

00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:32.560
 serendipitously

00:11:32.560 --> 00:11:33.800
 stumble upon

00:11:33.800 --> 00:11:34.400
 a treasure

00:11:34.400 --> 00:11:35.040
 that just

00:11:35.040 --> 00:11:36.020
 plops in

00:11:36.020 --> 00:11:36.460
 their lap.

00:11:37.460 --> 00:11:37.860
 But

00:11:37.860 --> 00:11:38.420
 others,

00:11:38.680 --> 00:11:39.020
 like this

00:11:39.020 --> 00:11:39.440
 merchant,

00:11:40.280 --> 00:11:40.840
 search,

00:11:41.640 --> 00:11:42.000
 labor

00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.120
 with intention

00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:44.140
 and persistence.

00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:46.520
 When he

00:11:46.520 --> 00:11:47.320
 finally finds

00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:48.140
 that pearl,

00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:49.340
 though it

00:11:49.340 --> 00:11:49.860
 cost him

00:11:49.860 --> 00:11:50.380
 time

00:11:50.380 --> 00:11:51.260
 and energy,

00:11:51.800 --> 00:11:52.120
 he

00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:53.280
 instantly

00:11:53.280 --> 00:11:53.940
 recognizes

00:11:53.940 --> 00:11:54.980
 that this

00:11:54.980 --> 00:11:55.520
 pearl was

00:11:55.520 --> 00:11:56.100
 worth it.

00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:58.000
 With his

00:11:58.000 --> 00:11:58.860
 trained eye,

00:11:59.000 --> 00:11:59.500
 he sees

00:11:59.500 --> 00:12:00.540
 its coat,

00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:01.900
 its luster,

00:12:02.140 --> 00:12:02.900
 its perfect

00:12:02.900 --> 00:12:03.820
 sphericity,

00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:04.520
 its color,

00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:05.200
 its shape,

00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:07.440
 and he

00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:08.000
 immediately

00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:08.640
 knows he's

00:12:08.640 --> 00:12:09.260
 found something

00:12:09.260 --> 00:12:09.900
 he's never

00:12:09.900 --> 00:12:10.960
 found before.

00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:12.980
 Knowing the

00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:13.680
 market for

00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:14.100
 these kinds

00:12:14.100 --> 00:12:14.500
 of things,

00:12:14.800 --> 00:12:15.420
 he too

00:12:15.420 --> 00:12:16.100
 performs a

00:12:16.100 --> 00:12:16.820
 cost-benefit

00:12:16.820 --> 00:12:17.260
 analysis.

00:12:18.400 --> 00:12:18.920
 In comparison,

00:12:19.160 --> 00:12:19.780
 commentators

00:12:19.780 --> 00:12:21.640
 surmise that

00:12:21.640 --> 00:12:22.580
 the man in

00:12:22.580 --> 00:12:22.920
 the first

00:12:22.920 --> 00:12:23.400
 parable was

00:12:23.400 --> 00:12:23.840
 just a

00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:24.580
 lowly day

00:12:24.580 --> 00:12:25.420
 laborer,

00:12:25.419 --> 00:12:26.360
 didn't have

00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:26.799
 much to

00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:27.139
 his name

00:12:27.139 --> 00:12:27.659
 probably,

00:12:28.459 --> 00:12:29.740
 but this

00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:30.059
 merchant,

00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:30.339
 it's not

00:12:30.339 --> 00:12:30.759
 like that.

00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:32.679
 He probably

00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:33.299
 had other

00:12:33.299 --> 00:12:34.419
 expensive,

00:12:34.979 --> 00:12:35.879
 rare pearls

00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:36.219
 in his

00:12:36.219 --> 00:12:36.519
 possession.

00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:37.500
 He had

00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:38.240
 even more

00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:38.740
 to sell,

00:12:39.419 --> 00:12:40.599
 yet still,

00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:41.240
 Jesus is

00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:41.719
 emphatically

00:12:41.719 --> 00:12:42.240
 making the

00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:42.500
 point,

00:12:43.779 --> 00:12:45.379
 it is worth

00:12:45.379 --> 00:12:45.919
 to sell

00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:46.759
 all that you

00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:47.159
 have,

00:12:47.959 --> 00:12:48.899
 just to gain

00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:49.919
 this one

00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:50.319
 pearl,

00:12:50.419 --> 00:12:50.980
 this singular

00:12:50.980 --> 00:12:51.319
 pearl.

00:12:51.320 --> 00:12:51.320


00:12:52.280 --> 00:12:52.780
 That word

00:12:52.780 --> 00:12:53.080
 one,

00:12:53.280 --> 00:12:53.840
 it stands

00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:54.200
 out in

00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:55.100
 verse 46.

00:12:55.800 --> 00:12:56.000
 Jesus

00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:56.400
 could have

00:12:56.400 --> 00:12:57.340
 said a

00:12:57.340 --> 00:12:57.600
 pearl,

00:12:58.100 --> 00:12:59.180
 but he

00:12:59.180 --> 00:13:00.040
 says the

00:13:00.040 --> 00:13:00.760
 one pearl.

00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:01.440
 I think

00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:02.440
 to highlight

00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:03.620
 its singularity,

00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:05.780
 this one

00:13:05.780 --> 00:13:06.700
 singular pearl

00:13:06.700 --> 00:13:07.840
 is more

00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:08.460
 valuable than

00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:09.340
 all the other

00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:09.940
 pearls in his

00:13:09.940 --> 00:13:10.260
 possession

00:13:10.260 --> 00:13:11.120
 combined.

00:13:13.260 --> 00:13:13.860
 This

00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:14.680
 cost-benefit

00:13:14.680 --> 00:13:15.480
 analysis is

00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:16.620
 the central

00:13:16.620 --> 00:13:17.740
 point of

00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:18.280
 this parable.

00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:19.620
 We're

00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:20.100
 familiar with

00:13:20.100 --> 00:13:20.560
 the basic

00:13:20.560 --> 00:13:21.000
 idea,

00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:21.440
 right?

00:13:21.680 --> 00:13:22.120
 It's a

00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:22.440
 fancy

00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:22.840
 business

00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:23.120
 term,

00:13:23.580 --> 00:13:23.960
 that's a

00:13:23.960 --> 00:13:24.639
 very basic

00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:25.060
 idea.

00:13:26.580 --> 00:13:27.180
 Do the

00:13:27.180 --> 00:13:27.639
 benefits

00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:28.800
 outweigh the

00:13:28.800 --> 00:13:29.220
 costs?

00:13:30.440 --> 00:13:30.840
 If so,

00:13:30.940 --> 00:13:31.940
 then go

00:13:31.940 --> 00:13:32.320
 for it,

00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:32.620
 it makes

00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:32.920
 sense.

00:13:33.740 --> 00:13:34.240
 If not,

00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:35.399
 then pump

00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:35.800
 the brakes,

00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:36.659
 rethink

00:13:36.659 --> 00:13:37.100
 things.

00:13:39.159 --> 00:13:39.680
 So there

00:13:39.680 --> 00:13:40.019
 are two

00:13:40.019 --> 00:13:40.519
 parts to

00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:41.019
 that analysis

00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:41.920
 of understanding.

00:13:43.159 --> 00:13:43.639
 It's the

00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:44.580
 cost on the

00:13:44.580 --> 00:13:44.899
 one hand,

00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:45.820
 and then the

00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:46.220
 benefit.

00:13:46.660 --> 00:13:46.940
 So I want

00:13:46.940 --> 00:13:47.480
 to first look

00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:47.740
 at the

00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:48.180
 cost.

00:13:48.179 --> 00:13:50.379
 The cost

00:13:50.379 --> 00:13:50.659
 of the

00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:51.139
 kingdom is

00:13:51.139 --> 00:13:51.719
 plain and

00:13:51.719 --> 00:13:52.000
 clear.

00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:53.919
 Almost verbatim,

00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:55.679
 Jesus tells us

00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:57.659
 plainly that

00:13:57.659 --> 00:13:58.579
 both of these

00:13:58.579 --> 00:13:58.939
 parables,

00:13:59.139 --> 00:13:59.620
 these men

00:13:59.620 --> 00:14:01.359
 sell everything.

00:14:01.459 --> 00:14:01.799
 They sell

00:14:01.799 --> 00:14:02.439
 everything that

00:14:02.439 --> 00:14:02.879
 they have.

00:14:04.199 --> 00:14:04.559
 Though they

00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:04.819
 might have

00:14:04.819 --> 00:14:05.579
 looked crazy

00:14:05.579 --> 00:14:06.219
 to the outside

00:14:06.219 --> 00:14:06.579
 world,

00:14:06.979 --> 00:14:07.739
 they nonetheless

00:14:07.739 --> 00:14:08.719
 liquidated their

00:14:08.719 --> 00:14:09.120
 homes,

00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:10.959
 their land,

00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:12.319
 their livestock,

00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:13.759
 extra clothing,

00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:14.500
 jewelry,

00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:15.719
 stored food,

00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:16.979
 anything and

00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:17.379
 everything.

00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:17.779
 It all

00:14:17.779 --> 00:14:18.460
 must go

00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:20.539
 so that they

00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:20.860
 could buy

00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:21.560
 this one

00:14:21.560 --> 00:14:21.960
 thing.

00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:24.840
 Jesus makes

00:14:24.840 --> 00:14:25.460
 it clear that

00:14:25.460 --> 00:14:26.039
 the kingdom

00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:26.620
 of heaven,

00:14:27.560 --> 00:14:28.060
 of being

00:14:28.060 --> 00:14:28.620
 under the

00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:29.300
 rule and

00:14:29.300 --> 00:14:29.920
 reign of

00:14:29.920 --> 00:14:30.840
 Jesus Christ,

00:14:30.940 --> 00:14:31.360
 the king,

00:14:32.060 --> 00:14:33.120
 it costs

00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:33.440
 you

00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:34.860
 everything.

00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:37.899
 The kingdom

00:14:37.899 --> 00:14:38.420
 of heaven is

00:14:38.420 --> 00:14:39.240
 all-encompassing.

00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:40.519
 It's all

00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:41.180
 demanding.

00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:43.000
 Jesus very

00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:43.899
 plainly tells

00:14:43.899 --> 00:14:44.419
 us in Luke

00:14:44.419 --> 00:14:44.980
 13,

00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:45.879
 anyone,

00:14:46.699 --> 00:14:47.559
 any one of

00:14:47.559 --> 00:14:47.819
 you who

00:14:47.819 --> 00:14:48.279
 does not

00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:49.000
 renounce all

00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:49.299
 that you

00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:50.799
 have cannot

00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:51.980
 be my

00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:52.299
 disciple.

00:14:54.959 --> 00:14:55.439
 Now,

00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:57.240
 I don't

00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:57.600
 think that

00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:58.879
 Jesus literally

00:14:58.879 --> 00:14:59.360
 means that

00:14:59.360 --> 00:14:59.879
 today we

00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:00.819
 need to

00:15:00.819 --> 00:15:01.519
 now take a

00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:01.980
 vow of

00:15:01.980 --> 00:15:02.620
 poverty and

00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:03.100
 sell all

00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:03.340
 that we

00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:03.759
 have to

00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:04.059
 give to

00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:04.319
 the poor.

00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:06.600
 You read

00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:07.199
 of examples

00:15:07.199 --> 00:15:08.960
 of wealthy

00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:09.980
 people in the

00:15:09.980 --> 00:15:11.159
 gospel and in

00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:11.779
 the book of

00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.740
 Acts who

00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:13.579
 provide for

00:15:13.579 --> 00:15:14.059
 Jesus and

00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:14.639
 his disciples.

00:15:15.559 --> 00:15:16.199
 Even the

00:15:16.199 --> 00:15:16.740
 apostles,

00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:17.740
 Peter,

00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:18.959
 he's shown to

00:15:18.959 --> 00:15:19.600
 have possessions.

00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:21.279
 And for those

00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:21.740
 of us with

00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:22.339
 families,

00:15:22.819 --> 00:15:23.480
 it is our

00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:24.159
 God-given

00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:25.220
 responsibility to

00:15:25.220 --> 00:15:26.039
 provide for

00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:27.600
 them, to

00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:28.339
 work hard for

00:15:28.339 --> 00:15:28.519
 them.

00:15:29.459 --> 00:15:30.019
 If you don't,

00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:30.659
 then you are

00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:31.159
 worse than

00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:31.620
 unbelievers.

00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:32.059
 That's what

00:15:32.059 --> 00:15:32.959
 1 Timothy 5

00:15:32.959 --> 00:15:33.360
 says.

00:15:34.199 --> 00:15:34.659
 For even

00:15:34.659 --> 00:15:35.600
 unbelievers

00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:36.879
 understand their

00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:37.639
 duty to

00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:38.259
 provide for

00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:38.839
 their families.

00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:41.199
 But while

00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:41.879
 Jesus might

00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:42.520
 not literally

00:15:42.520 --> 00:15:43.340
 demand all,

00:15:44.700 --> 00:15:45.600
 he does

00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.860
 spiritually demand

00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:47.460
 all.

00:15:47.920 --> 00:15:48.640
 All of our

00:15:48.640 --> 00:15:50.259
 hearts, all of

00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:50.800
 our allegiance.

00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:53.220
 The cost of

00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:54.060
 the kingdom is

00:15:54.060 --> 00:15:54.879
 steep.

00:15:55.820 --> 00:15:57.140
 There is no

00:15:57.140 --> 00:15:58.240
 easy believism

00:15:58.240 --> 00:15:59.759
 in the kingdom.

00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:02.040
 There is no,

00:16:03.040 --> 00:16:03.640
 all you need to

00:16:03.640 --> 00:16:04.600
 do is just say

00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:05.020
 a prayer.

00:16:06.280 --> 00:16:07.080
 Just come up

00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:07.860
 once for an

00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:08.340
 altar call.

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:10.379
 Even just get

00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:10.700
 baptized.

00:16:11.920 --> 00:16:12.900
 Just get wet

00:16:12.900 --> 00:16:13.740
 for a little

00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:14.940
 bit and then

00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:15.180
 you're going to

00:16:15.180 --> 00:16:15.500
 be good.

00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:15.800
 You can

00:16:15.800 --> 00:16:16.140
 coast.

00:16:18.780 --> 00:16:20.040
 It is only

00:16:20.040 --> 00:16:20.879
 those who are

00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:21.540
 willing to give

00:16:21.540 --> 00:16:22.700
 up everything

00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:24.980
 who will be

00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:25.540
 able to gain

00:16:25.540 --> 00:16:26.020
 the kingdom.

00:16:27.560 --> 00:16:28.420
 As the old

00:16:28.420 --> 00:16:29.120
 saying goes,

00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:30.700
 salvation is

00:16:30.700 --> 00:16:32.740
 free, but it

00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:33.480
 costs you

00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:33.960
 everything.

00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:34.019
 money.

00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:36.820
 It's not just

00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:37.280
 with money,

00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:38.280
 whether it's

00:16:38.280 --> 00:16:39.000
 our time,

00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:40.920
 a dream of

00:16:40.920 --> 00:16:41.519
 yours, a

00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.120
 relationship,

00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:44.100
 attachments to

00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:44.639
 comfort,

00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:46.220
 family, your

00:16:46.220 --> 00:16:46.940
 health even.

00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:49.259
 There can't be

00:16:49.259 --> 00:16:50.600
 anything where

00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:51.340
 we say to

00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:53.879
 Christ, you can

00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:54.519
 have this much.

00:16:55.820 --> 00:16:56.560
 You can have

00:16:56.560 --> 00:16:57.200
 10%.

00:16:57.200 --> 00:16:59.040
 you can have

00:16:59.040 --> 00:16:59.740
 Sunday mornings,

00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:02.040
 but this,

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:04.059
 this is mine.

00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:06.960
 This is my

00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:07.700
 line in the

00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:08.000
 sand.

00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.779
 You, you

00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:11.600
 cannot touch

00:17:11.600 --> 00:17:11.980
 this.

00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:15.200
 brothers and

00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:17.039
 sisters, where

00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:17.480
 is that line

00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:17.839
 for you?

00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:21.940
 Lots of us

00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:22.700
 ponder what we

00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:23.339
 ought to do with

00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:23.880
 our lives.

00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:26.079
 Some of us are

00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:26.599
 thinking through

00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:27.279
 our professional

00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:29.599
 careers, maybe

00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:30.180
 even thinking

00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:30.940
 about entering

00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:31.620
 full-time

00:17:31.620 --> 00:17:32.620
 Christian ministry.

00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:35.120
 Should I go to

00:17:35.120 --> 00:17:37.440
 med school, or

00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:38.000
 move to this

00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:39.380
 city, or marry

00:17:39.380 --> 00:17:40.099
 this guy or

00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:40.339
 girl?

00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:43.720
 At the risk of

00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:44.460
 minimizing the

00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:45.180
 importance of

00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:45.960
 those questions,

00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:48.360
 they are always

00:17:48.360 --> 00:17:49.360
 secondary.

00:17:51.380 --> 00:17:52.860
 The primary

00:17:52.860 --> 00:17:54.380
 question is,

00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:55.860
 can I renounce

00:17:55.860 --> 00:17:56.980
 all that I have

00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:58.360
 to follow Jesus

00:17:58.360 --> 00:17:58.819
 Christ?

00:18:00.900 --> 00:18:02.160
 Far too many of

00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:03.380
 us get the

00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:04.180
 order of this

00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:05.700
 question mixed

00:18:05.700 --> 00:18:05.940
 up.

00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:08.980
 We try to figure

00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:09.599
 out what to do

00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.400
 with our lives

00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:11.920
 without resolving

00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:13.160
 a total,

00:18:13.800 --> 00:18:14.800
 complete surrender

00:18:14.800 --> 00:18:15.400
 to Jesus

00:18:15.400 --> 00:18:15.840
 Christ.

00:18:17.580 --> 00:18:18.300
 But if you're

00:18:18.300 --> 00:18:19.360
 resolved, if you

00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:20.080
 get that first

00:18:20.080 --> 00:18:20.840
 question right,

00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.019
 then that totally

00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:23.140
 transforms the

00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:23.519
 way that you

00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.000
 answer that

00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:24.620
 second question,

00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.080
 doesn't it?

00:18:27.820 --> 00:18:28.460
 When we're

00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:29.320
 confronted, though,

00:18:29.400 --> 00:18:30.360
 with the high

00:18:30.360 --> 00:18:30.980
 cost of the

00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:32.500
 kingdom, it

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.180
 might be easy to

00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:34.160
 push back saying,

00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:36.180
 oh no, Jesus

00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:36.860
 didn't mean

00:18:36.860 --> 00:18:37.480
 everything.

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:40.339
 Jesus is kind.

00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.319
 Didn't we just

00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:44.120
 read that he is

00:18:44.120 --> 00:18:45.319
 gentle and lowly

00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:46.319
 and that he won't

00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:47.360
 break a bruised

00:18:47.360 --> 00:18:47.700
 reed?

00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:49.279
 Your interpretation

00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:50.299
 makes the kingdom

00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:51.099
 too demanding,

00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:52.620
 too exclusive,

00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:53.460
 too harsh.

00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:56.500
 You're right.

00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:59.180
 Jesus is all-loving,

00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:01.180
 all-kind, and that

00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:03.339
 is precisely why he

00:19:03.339 --> 00:19:04.639
 does demand our

00:19:04.639 --> 00:19:05.879
 entire allegiance.

00:19:07.399 --> 00:19:08.579
 Because he knows

00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.399
 that those who live

00:19:09.399 --> 00:19:10.139
 outside of the

00:19:10.139 --> 00:19:10.759
 kingdom of heaven,

00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:11.859
 we serve.

00:19:12.899 --> 00:19:13.839
 They serve a

00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:15.119
 self-defeating,

00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.779
 self-sabotaging

00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:17.319
 enterprise.

00:19:18.619 --> 00:19:19.599
 Take money, for

00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:19.919
 example.

00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:22.299
 Money universally

00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:23.259
 is seen as power.

00:19:24.619 --> 00:19:26.039
 Money promises

00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:28.500
 security, safety.

00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:29.619
 It holds out the

00:19:29.619 --> 00:19:30.859
 illusion of control,

00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:32.419
 of freedom of

00:19:32.419 --> 00:19:32.779
 worry.

00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:36.399
 It is so easy

00:19:36.399 --> 00:19:37.339
 to let money

00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:39.159
 displace God

00:19:39.159 --> 00:19:40.899
 as our highest

00:19:40.899 --> 00:19:42.259
 good, as our

00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:43.179
 rock and our

00:19:43.179 --> 00:19:43.619
 redeemer.

00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:46.779
 But the reality

00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:47.819
 is, is in the

00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:50.099
 long run, money

00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:53.439
 will never make

00:19:53.439 --> 00:19:54.159
 you feel rich.

00:19:55.159 --> 00:19:56.179
 Money will never

00:19:56.179 --> 00:19:56.859
 make you feel

00:19:56.859 --> 00:19:57.159
 rich.

00:19:58.339 --> 00:19:59.179
 It's like

00:19:59.179 --> 00:19:59.799
 salt water.

00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:01.579
 it temporarily

00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:02.599
 quenches your

00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:03.079
 thirst.

00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:04.819
 But it will only

00:20:04.819 --> 00:20:05.659
 suck your

00:20:05.659 --> 00:20:07.379
 cells dry from

00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:08.339
 the inside out

00:20:08.339 --> 00:20:09.519
 and make you

00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.460
 thirstier and

00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:11.240
 thirstier and

00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:11.700
 thirstier.

00:20:15.139 --> 00:20:16.059
 Even when I

00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:16.879
 know that in my

00:20:16.879 --> 00:20:19.059
 own head, if I'm

00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:20.180
 honest, I am cut

00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:20.960
 to the heart by

00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:21.680
 this passage.

00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:24.440
 And I'm

00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:26.639
 convicted by my

00:20:26.639 --> 00:20:27.200
 allegiance to

00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:27.759
 other things.

00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:32.839
 I've had to

00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:33.319
 wrestle in

00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:36.160
 prayer in

00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:36.839
 preparation for

00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:37.259
 this sermon.

00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.519
 Could I do

00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:42.720
 what these men

00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:42.960
 did?

00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:46.660
 Could I sell

00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:49.079
 all that I

00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:49.900
 have and

00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:50.279
 renounce

00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:50.980
 everything for

00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:51.879
 the sake of

00:20:51.879 --> 00:20:52.279
 the kingdom?

00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:54.519
 to give up

00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:55.119
 my house,

00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:58.200
 my car,

00:20:59.079 --> 00:21:00.180
 my 401k,

00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:01.619
 my entire

00:21:01.619 --> 00:21:02.379
 net worth?

00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:05.440
 Could I lead

00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:07.000
 my family down

00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:07.539
 that path?

00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:09.639
 Could I

00:21:09.639 --> 00:21:10.779
 joyfully do

00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:10.980
 it?

00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:13.899
 Do I value the

00:21:13.899 --> 00:21:15.500
 kingdom above

00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:16.099
 all else?

00:21:16.099 --> 00:21:19.240
 every morning,

00:21:19.339 --> 00:21:20.259
 every single

00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:21.159
 day, I feel

00:21:21.159 --> 00:21:22.179
 the need to

00:21:22.179 --> 00:21:23.719
 train myself

00:21:23.719 --> 00:21:24.459
 to do this

00:21:24.459 --> 00:21:25.159
 one simple

00:21:25.159 --> 00:21:25.480
 thing.

00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:29.000
 Trying to

00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:30.039
 rip open

00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:31.439
 this grip,

00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.419
 this tight grip

00:21:32.419 --> 00:21:33.079
 that I have

00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:33.859
 on my

00:21:33.859 --> 00:21:34.299
 possessions.

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:37.000
 I have to do

00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.519
 that every

00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:37.879
 morning.

00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:38.079
 I have to

00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:38.240
 do that

00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:37.899
 every morning.

00:21:40.699 --> 00:21:41.579
 But in those

00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:43.039
 prayer times,

00:21:43.139 --> 00:21:43.619
 if I'm not

00:21:43.619 --> 00:21:44.079
 careful,

00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:46.240
 I can get

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.720
 into this

00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:47.799
 mode very

00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:48.480
 easily of

00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:50.939
 self-focused

00:21:50.939 --> 00:21:51.619
 performance.

00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.000
 As Jerry

00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:54.699
 Bridges put it,

00:21:54.759 --> 00:21:55.559
 our default

00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:56.139
 mode as

00:21:56.139 --> 00:21:56.799
 believers is

00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.359
 to live by

00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:58.240
 performance

00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.740
 and not

00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.379
 by grace.

00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:02.699
 It is the

00:22:02.699 --> 00:22:03.419
 default mode

00:22:03.419 --> 00:22:04.019
 of my own

00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:05.059
 heart to

00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:06.179
 live just

00:22:06.179 --> 00:22:06.779
 looking at

00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:08.339
 myself and

00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:08.839
 to feel like

00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:09.199
 I'm not

00:22:09.199 --> 00:22:10.039
 Christian enough.

00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:12.240
 This message

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:12.939
 so far

00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:14.940
 might have

00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:15.580
 just reinforced

00:22:15.580 --> 00:22:16.420
 that feeling

00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:17.019
 that you are

00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:18.740
 not sacrificial

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.180
 enough.

00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.299
 You're not

00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:20.920
 giving enough.

00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:22.259
 You're not

00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:23.059
 holy enough.

00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:26.100
 But in these

00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:27.039
 short parables,

00:22:28.080 --> 00:22:28.700
 notice that

00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:29.519
 Jesus doesn't

00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.360
 describe these

00:22:30.360 --> 00:22:30.980
 men as

00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:32.019
 exceptionally

00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:33.220
 holy or

00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:34.080
 exceptionally

00:22:34.080 --> 00:22:34.559
 righteous.

00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:36.340
 It's not even

00:22:36.340 --> 00:22:36.960
 about these

00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.600
 men at all.

00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:39.299
 It's about

00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:40.279
 the value

00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:40.940
 of the

00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:41.539
 kingdom of

00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:41.779
 heaven.

00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:43.480
 in no

00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:44.119
 sense did

00:22:44.119 --> 00:22:44.660
 these men

00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:45.220
 feel like

00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:45.539
 they were

00:22:45.539 --> 00:22:46.160
 committing a

00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:47.259
 self-sacrificial

00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:48.420
 magnanimous

00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:48.819
 act.

00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:50.700
 If you came up

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.139
 to them and

00:22:51.139 --> 00:22:51.579
 asked them,

00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:52.879
 how did you

00:22:52.879 --> 00:22:53.960
 do this?

00:22:54.639 --> 00:22:55.440
 How did you

00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:56.279
 find it within

00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:56.940
 yourself to be

00:22:56.940 --> 00:22:57.639
 so brave,

00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.759
 so sacrificial?

00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:00.539
 They would

00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.740
 have looked at

00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:02.019
 you with

00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:03.259
 complete confusion

00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:05.460
 because in

00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:06.099
 the end,

00:23:06.639 --> 00:23:07.220
 this deed was

00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:07.700
 done in

00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:08.899
 joy.

00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:12.160
 joy because

00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:13.040
 of the value

00:23:13.040 --> 00:23:13.540
 of the

00:23:13.540 --> 00:23:13.800
 kingdom.

00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:16.259
 While he

00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:17.300
 sold every

00:23:17.300 --> 00:23:17.920
 previous

00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.480
 attachment,

00:23:19.300 --> 00:23:20.180
 every sense

00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:20.759
 of security,

00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:21.759
 every aspect

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:22.480
 tied to his

00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.320
 previous life,

00:23:23.860 --> 00:23:24.480
 he was

00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:25.360
 supremely

00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:25.800
 joyful.

00:23:28.120 --> 00:23:28.900
 This is the

00:23:28.900 --> 00:23:29.340
 key.

00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:30.500
 This is the

00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.160
 key to all

00:23:31.160 --> 00:23:31.820
 Christian living

00:23:31.820 --> 00:23:33.519
 and all of

00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.380
 Christian growth.

00:23:35.320 --> 00:23:35.940
 It's about

00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.480
 getting our

00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:37.360
 eyes off of

00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:37.939
 ourselves,

00:23:38.399 --> 00:23:39.000
 off of our

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.579
 stuff,

00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:40.599
 and to

00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:40.919
 look,

00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:42.379
 seek first

00:23:42.379 --> 00:23:42.899
 the kingdom

00:23:42.899 --> 00:23:43.359
 of heaven.

00:23:44.679 --> 00:23:45.719
 We only

00:23:45.719 --> 00:23:46.519
 learn to

00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.479
 deny ourselves

00:23:47.479 --> 00:23:48.039
 and to

00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:48.379
 renounce

00:23:48.379 --> 00:23:50.279
 everything by

00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:51.019
 seeing the

00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:52.339
 surpassing worth

00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:52.879
 of the kingdom

00:23:52.879 --> 00:23:53.279
 of heaven.

00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.719
 That's how

00:23:56.719 --> 00:23:57.240
 the apostle

00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:57.679
 Paul,

00:23:57.879 --> 00:23:58.519
 he gave up

00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.279
 all former

00:23:59.279 --> 00:23:59.759
 ties,

00:24:00.179 --> 00:24:00.679
 all his

00:24:00.679 --> 00:24:01.579
 former security,

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:02.159
 all his

00:24:02.159 --> 00:24:03.039
 former boasts.

00:24:03.699 --> 00:24:04.139
 In Philippians

00:24:04.139 --> 00:24:04.759
 3, he says,

00:24:05.099 --> 00:24:05.759
 whatever gain I

00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.039
 had,

00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:07.420
 I counted

00:24:07.420 --> 00:24:08.279
 as loss

00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.039
 for the

00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:09.639
 sake of

00:24:09.639 --> 00:24:10.180
 Christ.

00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:11.879
 Indeed, I

00:24:11.879 --> 00:24:12.659
 count everything

00:24:12.659 --> 00:24:13.339
 as loss

00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:14.379
 because of the

00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:15.720
 surpassing worth

00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.759
 of knowing

00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:17.599
 Christ Jesus

00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:18.240
 my Lord.

00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:19.180
 For his

00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:19.639
 sake I

00:24:19.639 --> 00:24:20.039
 have suffered

00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:20.480
 the loss

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.059
 of all

00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:21.920
 things and

00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:22.460
 count them

00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.420
 as rubbish

00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:24.740
 in order that

00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.379
 I may gain

00:24:25.379 --> 00:24:26.159
 Christ and be

00:24:26.159 --> 00:24:27.059
 found in him.

00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:28.920
 Every gain

00:24:28.920 --> 00:24:29.339
 in this

00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:29.879
 world,

00:24:30.659 --> 00:24:31.259
 all the

00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:31.839
 money,

00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:32.799
 the status,

00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:33.539
 the power,

00:24:34.139 --> 00:24:35.240
 it was like

00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:36.079
 refuse,

00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:36.900
 like worthless

00:24:36.900 --> 00:24:38.339
 dung compared

00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:39.079
 to the

00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:40.079
 surpassing worth

00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:40.460
 of knowing

00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:40.880
 Christ.

00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:42.960
 That's why

00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:43.960
 David Livingstone,

00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:45.359
 a missionary

00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:46.140
 to Africa,

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:47.819
 even when he

00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:48.819
 contracted malaria

00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:50.700
 over 30 times,

00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:52.259
 had his left

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.259
 arm crushed

00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:54.039
 by a lion

00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:55.500
 or had to

00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.339
 bury his wife

00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:57.120
 in the soils

00:24:57.120 --> 00:24:58.039
 of Africa.

00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.079
 It almost

00:24:59.079 --> 00:25:00.640
 feels not real,

00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:02.140
 the hardships

00:25:02.140 --> 00:25:02.960
 that he had to

00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:03.299
 endure.

00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:04.779
 But he

00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.340
 said this,

00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:06.180
 people talk

00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:06.500
 of the

00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.000
 sacrifice

00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.480
 that I've

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.200
 made and

00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:08.940
 spending so

00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:09.500
 much of my

00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:09.860
 life in

00:25:09.860 --> 00:25:10.200
 Africa.

00:25:11.100 --> 00:25:11.620
 Anxiety,

00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:12.380
 sickness,

00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:13.140
 suffering,

00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:13.660
 or danger,

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.620
 now and

00:25:14.620 --> 00:25:15.340
 then with

00:25:15.340 --> 00:25:16.079
 the foregoing

00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:16.400
 of the

00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:16.799
 common

00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.420
 conveniences

00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:18.059
 and charities

00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:18.460
 of this

00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:19.279
 life may

00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:19.700
 make us

00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:20.779
 pause and

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.420
 cause the

00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:21.980
 spirit to

00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:22.779
 waver and

00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.220
 the soul

00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:23.819
 to sink,

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:24.640
 but let

00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:25.480
 this be

00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:26.539
 for a

00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:26.819
 moment.

00:25:27.620 --> 00:25:28.120
 For these

00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:28.440
 are all

00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:29.579
 nothing when

00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:30.299
 compared with

00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:31.259
 the glory that

00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:31.740
 shall be

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.740
 revealed in

00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:33.240
 and for

00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:33.559
 us.

00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:36.339
 I have

00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:37.259
 never made

00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:37.900
 a sacrifice.

00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:39.480
 I never

00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.099
 made a

00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:40.539
 sacrifice.

00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:42.960
 I don't

00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:43.420
 mean to

00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:44.980
 over-spiritualize

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:46.279
 or trivialize

00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:47.839
 our sacrifices

00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:48.299
 and our

00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:49.019
 hardships that

00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:49.619
 we face.

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:50.680
 There are

00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.559
 real hardships

00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:52.279
 that we do

00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:53.019
 go through.

00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.359
 The battle

00:25:54.359 --> 00:25:54.859
 against our

00:25:54.859 --> 00:25:55.740
 sins, Satan,

00:25:55.879 --> 00:25:56.420
 and the world

00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:57.559
 is real.

00:25:57.700 --> 00:25:58.279
 It rages

00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:59.119
 against us.

00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:00.279
 And Christians

00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:01.119
 do get

00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:02.139
 discouraged

00:26:02.139 --> 00:26:03.419
 and depressed.

00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:05.039
 But Living

00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:06.000
 Stone's quote

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:07.379
 is not to

00:26:07.379 --> 00:26:08.259
 minimize our

00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:09.299
 struggles, but

00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:09.919
 it is to

00:26:09.919 --> 00:26:11.039
 maximize the

00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:12.039
 incomparable

00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:13.719
 value of

00:26:13.719 --> 00:26:14.159
 the kingdom.

00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:16.139
 Once we

00:26:16.139 --> 00:26:16.639
 see the

00:26:16.639 --> 00:26:17.399
 immeasurable

00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:18.079
 value of

00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:18.479
 the kingdom,

00:26:19.739 --> 00:26:20.179
 then these

00:26:20.179 --> 00:26:21.139
 sacrifices, they

00:26:21.139 --> 00:26:21.959
 start to feel

00:26:21.959 --> 00:26:22.479
 smaller.

00:26:22.959 --> 00:26:23.319
 It all

00:26:23.319 --> 00:26:24.019
 relativizes.

00:26:26.659 --> 00:26:27.219
 It's not

00:26:27.219 --> 00:26:28.399
 primarily by

00:26:28.399 --> 00:26:28.879
 just doing

00:26:28.879 --> 00:26:29.579
 this in our

00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:30.199
 prayer times.

00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:30.960
 it's not

00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:31.360
 just doing

00:26:31.360 --> 00:26:31.680
 this.

00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:33.120
 But it's

00:26:33.120 --> 00:26:34.039
 doing this

00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:36.059
 to grasp

00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:36.660
 the feet of

00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:37.000
 our Lord

00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:37.680
 Jesus Christ,

00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:38.519
 to gain

00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.019
 more of

00:26:39.019 --> 00:26:40.259
 him, to

00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:40.799
 say that I

00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:41.740
 can't believe

00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:42.480
 I get to be

00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.059
 in relationship

00:26:43.059 --> 00:26:43.559
 with you,

00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.279
 Jesus Christ.

00:26:46.080 --> 00:26:46.940
 The point of

00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:47.600
 this parable is

00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:48.620
 not to starve

00:26:48.620 --> 00:26:49.779
 yourself, but

00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:50.259
 it is to

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:50.920
 feast.

00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:53.860
 Look, guys,

00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:55.220
 I know you

00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:55.720
 know this.

00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:57.079
 I know you

00:26:57.079 --> 00:26:57.579
 know this.

00:26:58.519 --> 00:26:59.319
 But sometimes

00:26:59.319 --> 00:27:00.779
 life is so

00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:02.339
 hard and

00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:03.019
 distracting,

00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:04.100
 discouraging,

00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:04.799
 that you need

00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.980
 someone else to

00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.779
 tell you this,

00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:08.059
 to remind you

00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:09.640
 of the supreme

00:27:09.640 --> 00:27:10.360
 worth of the

00:27:10.360 --> 00:27:11.079
 king and his

00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:11.400
 kingdom.

00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:13.600
 It is so

00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:14.640
 easy, is it

00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:15.559
 not, to let our

00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:17.140
 estimation of the

00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:18.100
 kingdom fluctuate.

00:27:18.099 --> 00:27:20.379
 we know on our

00:27:20.379 --> 00:27:20.959
 heads the

00:27:20.959 --> 00:27:22.459
 infinite value of

00:27:22.459 --> 00:27:23.219
 the kingdom, of

00:27:23.219 --> 00:27:24.480
 Jesus Christ, but

00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:25.199
 in our heart of

00:27:25.199 --> 00:27:25.740
 hearts, our

00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:27.439
 personal evaluation,

00:27:27.659 --> 00:27:29.019
 it rises and

00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:29.459
 falls.

00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:33.579
 I am 100%

00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:34.619
 sure that

00:27:34.619 --> 00:27:35.459
 James Howell's

00:27:35.459 --> 00:27:36.919
 desire for his

00:27:36.919 --> 00:27:37.799
 little hard drive,

00:27:37.859 --> 00:27:39.359
 it rose and it

00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:40.579
 fell, along with

00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.039
 Bitcoin.

00:27:42.879 --> 00:27:43.599
 When he saw

00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:44.039
 that his

00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:45.519
 portfolio rose,

00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:46.639
 he just wanted

00:27:46.639 --> 00:27:47.599
 that even more.

00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:48.899
 When he fell,

00:27:49.939 --> 00:27:51.019
 disinterested.

00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:53.659
 When he saw

00:27:53.659 --> 00:27:54.279
 though, that

00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:55.439
 over time his

00:27:55.439 --> 00:27:56.139
 portfolio grow

00:27:56.139 --> 00:27:58.319
 from 10,000 to

00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.039
 a million to

00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.879
 100 million to

00:27:59.879 --> 00:28:01.000
 800 million

00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:03.899
 dollars, there's

00:28:03.899 --> 00:28:04.419
 a fire.

00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:06.099
 There's a desire

00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:06.719
 for that.

00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:08.699
 We do the

00:28:08.699 --> 00:28:09.579
 same thing when

00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.500
 we start to

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.599
 really understand

00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:13.039
 the value of

00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:13.480
 the kingdom.

00:28:15.179 --> 00:28:15.639
 And when we

00:28:15.639 --> 00:28:16.399
 struggle to see

00:28:16.399 --> 00:28:17.419
 Jesus as he is,

00:28:18.099 --> 00:28:19.939
 God is gracious

00:28:19.939 --> 00:28:21.019
 to us to give

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.839
 us the people

00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:22.559
 in this room

00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:25.279
 to rely on our

00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:25.980
 fellow brothers

00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:27.139
 and sisters in

00:28:27.139 --> 00:28:27.659
 this race.

00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.439
 And I have

00:28:28.439 --> 00:28:29.500
 experienced that

00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.500
 fellowship here.

00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:33.700
 I am amazed by

00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.220
 some of your

00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:34.940
 testimonies.

00:28:36.140 --> 00:28:36.680
 Some of you

00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:37.220
 guys have quit

00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:37.880
 your jobs,

00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:39.539
 moved to a

00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:40.380
 brand new

00:28:40.380 --> 00:28:42.099
 city, just

00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:42.559
 so you can

00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:43.240
 follow God's

00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:43.720
 call to be

00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.359
 part of this

00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:44.740
 church.

00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:47.119
 Others of you

00:28:47.119 --> 00:28:47.839
 are following

00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:49.180
 Jesus and

00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:49.980
 standing up for

00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:51.099
 truth, even if

00:28:51.099 --> 00:28:51.980
 it costs you

00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:53.099
 your relationships

00:28:53.099 --> 00:28:54.519
 with friends and

00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:56.200
 family, even when

00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:57.299
 they ridicule you.

00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:57.399
 you.

00:28:59.180 --> 00:29:00.059
 Still more of

00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:00.639
 you have given

00:29:00.639 --> 00:29:01.579
 yourselves to the

00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:02.359
 giving, to the

00:29:02.359 --> 00:29:03.519
 service, to the

00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.539
 growth of this

00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.619
 church and your

00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:06.180
 brothers and

00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:06.460
 sisters.

00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:08.579
 You have made the

00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:09.740
 kingdom your top

00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:10.919
 priority and it

00:29:10.919 --> 00:29:11.680
 shows.

00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:14.839
 Even when it is a

00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:15.659
 struggle to make

00:29:15.659 --> 00:29:16.339
 the kingdom your

00:29:16.339 --> 00:29:18.919
 top priority, is

00:29:18.919 --> 00:29:19.819
 it not evidence that

00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:20.799
 the kingdom is your

00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:22.019
 top priority still?

00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:25.079
 When we see, when I

00:29:25.079 --> 00:29:26.720
 see that faith in

00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:28.019
 you, I am regularly

00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:29.660
 built up, regularly

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:30.660
 encouraged that Jesus

00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:32.259
 truly is worth

00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:32.859
 everything.

00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:36.660
 Bonhoeffer says so

00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:38.019
 much, he says,

00:29:39.099 --> 00:29:40.319
 God has put this

00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:41.200
 word into the mouth

00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:42.000
 of others in order

00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.599
 that it may be

00:29:42.599 --> 00:29:43.619
 communicated to us.

00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:45.660
 He needs him time,

00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.799
 he needs him again

00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:47.940
 and again when he

00:29:47.940 --> 00:29:49.400
 becomes uncertain and

00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:49.980
 discouraged.

00:29:50.359 --> 00:29:51.519
 For by himself he

00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.819
 cannot help himself

00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:53.779
 without denying the

00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:56.019
 truth, he needs his

00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:57.359
 brother as bearer and

00:29:57.359 --> 00:29:58.299
 proclaimer of the

00:29:58.299 --> 00:29:59.099
 divine word of

00:29:59.099 --> 00:29:59.539
 salvation.

00:30:00.379 --> 00:30:01.519
 The Christ in his

00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:03.059
 own heart is weaker

00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:04.119
 than the Christ in

00:30:04.119 --> 00:30:04.779
 the word of his

00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:05.019
 brother.

00:30:05.619 --> 00:30:07.079
 His own heart is

00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:08.660
 uncertain, his

00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:10.000
 brother's is sure.

00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.660
 When was the last

00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:14.319
 time you experienced

00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:15.859
 true Christian

00:30:15.859 --> 00:30:16.299
 fellowship?

00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:19.119
 Where a brother and

00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:20.359
 sister reminded you

00:30:20.359 --> 00:30:21.500
 of the joy that we

00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:22.720
 have in Jesus Christ.

00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:25.480
 Don't you want that?

00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:27.339
 Don't you want to do

00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:28.420
 that for others?

00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:31.240
 Let us faithfully

00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:32.920
 remind one another of

00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:34.460
 the value of the

00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.500
 kingdom, that the

00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.539
 king and his kingdom

00:30:36.539 --> 00:30:37.500
 are worth everything.

00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:41.079
 Now so far it sounds

00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:41.839
 like the kingdom of

00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:43.359
 heaven is only a

00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:45.420
 benefit to some, but

00:30:45.420 --> 00:30:46.680
 not a force to be

00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:47.240
 reckoned with.

00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:50.180
 Sean spoke last week

00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:51.519
 about the inevitability

00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:53.060
 of the kingdom of

00:30:53.060 --> 00:30:53.279
 heaven.

00:30:53.820 --> 00:30:54.640
 That when the battle

00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:56.400
 is done and the dust

00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:57.660
 settles, it will be the

00:30:57.660 --> 00:30:58.759
 kingdom of heaven that

00:30:58.759 --> 00:31:00.019
 stands, that reigns.

00:31:01.299 --> 00:31:03.380
 There is no place for

00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:04.340
 this kind of apathy.

00:31:05.840 --> 00:31:07.860
 No, it's good for you to

00:31:07.860 --> 00:31:09.640
 joyfully sell all your

00:31:09.640 --> 00:31:11.740
 stuff, but it's not for

00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:11.920
 me.

00:31:13.360 --> 00:31:14.400
 It's great that you found

00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:15.180
 your thing.

00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:17.759
 You have your kingdom,

00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:19.360
 I'll have mine.

00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:22.660
 Jesus debunks any sense

00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:23.960
 of that kind of talk in

00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:25.200
 the third parable of this

00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:26.620
 passage, the parable of

00:31:26.620 --> 00:31:28.060
 the net, which shows that

00:31:28.060 --> 00:31:29.519
 the kingdom of heaven is

00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:30.600
 all reckoning.

00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:33.000
 In this parable, the

00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:34.640
 kingdom of heaven is

00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:35.740
 compared to a massive

00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:38.240
 sen net thrown into the

00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:39.640
 sea that indiscriminately

00:31:39.640 --> 00:31:41.779
 gathers fish of all kinds,

00:31:42.100 --> 00:31:43.100
 which more literally

00:31:43.099 --> 00:31:44.559
 translates in the Greek to

00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:45.659
 all races.

00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:48.919
 Jesus again seems to be

00:31:48.919 --> 00:31:50.219
 drawing on real life

00:31:50.219 --> 00:31:52.399
 examples because fishermen

00:31:52.399 --> 00:31:53.740
 would regularly fish in

00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.759
 this particular manner.

00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:56.599
 They would stretch out this

00:31:56.599 --> 00:31:59.339
 ginormous net between two

00:31:59.339 --> 00:31:59.639
 boats.

00:32:00.219 --> 00:32:01.279
 It would stretch out even

00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:04.079
 across a half mile and

00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:05.099
 they would slowly sail

00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:06.119
 around.

00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:08.939
 These nets would have a

00:32:08.939 --> 00:32:11.339
 heavy lead line that

00:32:11.339 --> 00:32:12.379
 would drag across the

00:32:12.380 --> 00:32:13.600
 bottom of the ocean or

00:32:13.600 --> 00:32:14.520
 the bottom of the sea,

00:32:14.940 --> 00:32:16.880
 allowing the net to span

00:32:16.880 --> 00:32:18.380
 the entire depth of

00:32:19.060 --> 00:32:19.360
 water.

00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:22.160
 There was no escaping,

00:32:22.900 --> 00:32:24.460
 no dodging this net.

00:32:25.840 --> 00:32:27.660
 They would haul up every

00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:29.080
 watery creature on shore

00:32:29.080 --> 00:32:31.400
 then and then meticulously

00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:32.540
 sort out the good from the

00:32:32.540 --> 00:32:32.840
 bad.

00:32:34.340 --> 00:32:35.260
 In the Sea of Galilee,

00:32:35.340 --> 00:32:36.420
 there were more than 20

00:32:36.420 --> 00:32:37.920
 types of sea creatures.

00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:40.600
 Remember, in Jewish society,

00:32:40.599 --> 00:32:42.259
 they were to follow strict

00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:43.740
 dietary laws according to

00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:44.000
 Moses.

00:32:44.619 --> 00:32:45.879
 So some, some of these

00:32:45.879 --> 00:32:47.599
 species were ceremoniously

00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:49.099
 clean, others unclean.

00:32:50.019 --> 00:32:51.339
 The good and the bad.

00:32:53.539 --> 00:32:55.500
 And so far, this parable and

00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.779
 the parable of the wheat that

00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:57.959
 Sean preached on last week,

00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:59.599
 they touch on similar themes.

00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:02.539
 But while the themes are

00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:04.279
 similar, their focuses are

00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:04.959
 slightly different.

00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:07.960
 The parable of the wheat focuses

00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:10.579
 more on the fact that the

00:33:10.579 --> 00:33:11.640
 good and the evil, they

00:33:11.640 --> 00:33:12.279
 coexist.

00:33:13.579 --> 00:33:15.140
 But this parable, the parable

00:33:15.140 --> 00:33:16.740
 of the net, seems to build on

00:33:16.740 --> 00:33:19.240
 the previous parable, focused

00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:21.319
 not on their coexistence, but

00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:21.960
 their separation.

00:33:24.360 --> 00:33:26.299
 Right now, all of us see

00:33:26.299 --> 00:33:26.759
 creatures.

00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:29.579
 We're coexisting together.

00:33:29.579 --> 00:33:33.839
 We see the big blue sea in

00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:34.359
 front of us.

00:33:35.619 --> 00:33:37.460
 We see all the open space,

00:33:37.599 --> 00:33:38.699
 all the possibilities.

00:33:39.439 --> 00:33:40.899
 And we imagine ourselves to be

00:33:40.899 --> 00:33:44.399
 completely, completely free,

00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:46.299
 completely and forever

00:33:46.299 --> 00:33:46.919
 autonomous.

00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:50.779
 All unaware that the net is

00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:52.319
 enclosing in on us.

00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:56.839
 Because the net, slowly but

00:33:56.839 --> 00:33:59.500
 surely, is sweeping the sea of

00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:00.740
 the entire world.

00:34:01.500 --> 00:34:04.119
 And it's filling up right now,

00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:05.419
 as we speak.

00:34:07.139 --> 00:34:09.099
 And it indiscriminately catches

00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:11.119
 men of all kinds.

00:34:12.319 --> 00:34:13.940
 They don't care what demographic

00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:14.559
 you fit in.

00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:18.139
 The net will catch all of us.

00:34:18.199 --> 00:34:19.759
 It'll catch your Uber driver,

00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:21.699
 your neighbor, your lab partner,

00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:23.160
 your dentist.

00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:27.260
 The net has a max capacity.

00:34:29.059 --> 00:34:31.620
 It can't and won't fill up

00:34:31.620 --> 00:34:32.600
 indefinitely.

00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:35.900
 And once it reaches that

00:34:35.900 --> 00:34:38.059
 capacity, the kingdom of heaven,

00:34:38.620 --> 00:34:40.640
 then it will be revealed in all

00:34:40.640 --> 00:34:42.340
 of its resplendent glory.

00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:44.559
 And judgment will come.

00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:46.940
 With the bad being thrown into

00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:48.220
 the eternal fire.

00:34:49.840 --> 00:34:51.280
 The place of weeping and

00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:52.059
 gnashing of teeth.

00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:56.559
 This parable is a sober reminder

00:34:56.559 --> 00:34:58.480
 of the reality of hell.

00:35:00.600 --> 00:35:03.280
 As John MacArthur points out,

00:35:04.120 --> 00:35:06.100
 Jesus speaks more about hell

00:35:06.100 --> 00:35:08.000
 than he does about love.

00:35:09.740 --> 00:35:11.420
 He speaks more about hell than

00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:13.140
 all the other biblical authors.

00:35:13.139 --> 00:35:16.879
 And he does so because he loves us.

00:35:16.879 --> 00:35:18.980
 He earnestly warns us

00:35:18.980 --> 00:35:21.159
 that this net is slowly

00:35:21.159 --> 00:35:22.659
 but surely coming.

00:35:24.059 --> 00:35:25.440
 For scripture teaches us

00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:27.339
 that Jesus will return

00:35:27.339 --> 00:35:28.279
 one day soon.

00:35:30.279 --> 00:35:31.759
 All with his angels

00:35:31.759 --> 00:35:33.259
 to separate out

00:35:33.259 --> 00:35:34.339
 the good fish

00:35:34.339 --> 00:35:35.359
 from the bad fish,

00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:36.359
 from the sheep,

00:35:36.420 --> 00:35:36.960
 from the goats,

00:35:37.159 --> 00:35:38.940
 from those of the kingdom of heaven

00:35:38.940 --> 00:35:40.880
 and those outside of it.

00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:43.320
 Those who reject Jesus

00:35:43.320 --> 00:35:44.380
 as their king

00:35:44.380 --> 00:35:46.240
 and serve other idols

00:35:46.240 --> 00:35:47.820
 cannot and will not

00:35:47.820 --> 00:35:49.420
 be welcomed

00:35:49.420 --> 00:35:51.200
 into the kingdom of heaven.

00:35:53.300 --> 00:35:54.260
 Believe it or not,

00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:55.559
 we're already coming up

00:35:55.559 --> 00:35:57.420
 at the end of 2025.

00:35:58.539 --> 00:36:00.460
 Looking forward to start 2026.

00:36:00.460 --> 00:36:02.360
 many of you guys

00:36:02.360 --> 00:36:03.539
 have big goals,

00:36:04.220 --> 00:36:04.960
 big dreams.

00:36:06.159 --> 00:36:06.760
 Get married.

00:36:07.880 --> 00:36:08.599
 Have a child.

00:36:09.400 --> 00:36:10.460
 Start a new job.

00:36:10.679 --> 00:36:11.300
 Buy a home.

00:36:11.400 --> 00:36:12.519
 All good things.

00:36:12.619 --> 00:36:13.199
 All blessings.

00:36:14.599 --> 00:36:15.679
 But forget not

00:36:15.679 --> 00:36:17.440
 that 2026

00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:18.840
 could be the year

00:36:18.840 --> 00:36:20.440
 that Jesus returns.

00:36:22.340 --> 00:36:23.800
 It could be the year

00:36:23.800 --> 00:36:25.720
 when the net is full.

00:36:29.320 --> 00:36:30.440
 2026 could be the year

00:36:30.440 --> 00:36:31.639
 could be the last year

00:36:31.639 --> 00:36:32.400
 of our lives,

00:36:32.700 --> 00:36:33.920
 the last year of earth.

00:36:35.659 --> 00:36:37.320
 So this holiday season,

00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:40.159
 what will you speak about

00:36:40.159 --> 00:36:42.480
 with your family and friends?

00:36:44.599 --> 00:36:45.700
 This next year,

00:36:45.800 --> 00:36:47.099
 what will you speak about

00:36:47.099 --> 00:36:48.220
 to your coworkers,

00:36:48.740 --> 00:36:49.539
 to your neighbors?

00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:53.280
 You know,

00:36:53.659 --> 00:36:54.460
 I bet you that

00:36:54.460 --> 00:36:55.300
 going back,

00:36:55.420 --> 00:36:57.340
 the men in our passage

00:36:57.340 --> 00:36:58.840
 who found this great treasure,

00:36:58.840 --> 00:37:01.280
 they never shut up about it.

00:37:02.380 --> 00:37:03.680
 I bet you their friends

00:37:03.680 --> 00:37:05.220
 were sick and tired

00:37:05.220 --> 00:37:06.340
 of hearing about their treasure.

00:37:08.720 --> 00:37:10.340
 And I bet that we would too.

00:37:11.760 --> 00:37:13.100
 We can't help it.

00:37:13.240 --> 00:37:14.440
 What you value,

00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:15.780
 what makes you most happy,

00:37:16.180 --> 00:37:18.059
 is what you speak about,

00:37:18.059 --> 00:37:19.059
 what just overflows

00:37:19.680 --> 00:37:20.320
 in your life,

00:37:20.460 --> 00:37:22.460
 just naturally oozes out of you.

00:37:22.460 --> 00:37:25.139
 We see this later

00:37:25.139 --> 00:37:26.880
 in this very last verse

00:37:26.880 --> 00:37:27.579
 in our passage.

00:37:27.980 --> 00:37:29.119
 Those who have

00:37:29.119 --> 00:37:30.199
 and hold this treasure,

00:37:30.599 --> 00:37:31.119
 they are commanded

00:37:31.119 --> 00:37:31.960
 not to hoard,

00:37:32.220 --> 00:37:33.019
 not to hide,

00:37:33.400 --> 00:37:34.740
 but to bring out

00:37:34.740 --> 00:37:36.179
 this once hidden treasure.

00:37:36.720 --> 00:37:37.880
 To show publicly,

00:37:38.039 --> 00:37:39.420
 to share liberally,

00:37:39.800 --> 00:37:41.440
 to let others benefit

00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:42.380
 from this treasure

00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:43.179
 that we have found.

00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:45.639
 When you do,

00:37:46.220 --> 00:37:48.300
 God can and will use

00:37:48.300 --> 00:37:50.380
 that treasure of the gospel

00:37:50.380 --> 00:37:51.960
 to transform the evil

00:37:51.960 --> 00:37:52.740
 to the righteous,

00:37:53.320 --> 00:37:54.340
 just like he's done

00:37:54.340 --> 00:37:55.300
 for all of us.

00:37:57.240 --> 00:37:58.360
 And then the kingdom of heaven

00:37:58.360 --> 00:38:01.059
 is not just a personal treasure,

00:38:01.260 --> 00:38:02.700
 but it turns

00:38:02.700 --> 00:38:03.539
 or it becomes

00:38:03.539 --> 00:38:05.840
 a precious safety net

00:38:05.840 --> 00:38:07.380
 to snatch us up,

00:38:08.220 --> 00:38:09.079
 save us up

00:38:09.079 --> 00:38:10.280
 from the pits of hell.

00:38:12.860 --> 00:38:13.380
 This transformation

00:38:14.160 --> 00:38:15.559
 from evil to righteous,

00:38:16.099 --> 00:38:18.940
 it depends on one crucial thing.

00:38:18.940 --> 00:38:21.400
 It's understanding.

00:38:22.200 --> 00:38:23.260
 Without understanding,

00:38:23.579 --> 00:38:24.780
 the kingdom remains hidden

00:38:24.780 --> 00:38:27.380
 and its power unrevealed.

00:38:28.340 --> 00:38:29.039
 And that's why

00:38:29.039 --> 00:38:30.000
 Jesus now turns

00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:31.300
 away from the crowd

00:38:31.300 --> 00:38:33.260
 in verse 51

00:38:33.260 --> 00:38:35.320
 and turns directly

00:38:35.320 --> 00:38:36.179
 to his disciples

00:38:36.179 --> 00:38:37.420
 and he asks,

00:38:38.019 --> 00:38:38.820
 do you understand

00:38:38.820 --> 00:38:39.659
 all these things?

00:38:41.420 --> 00:38:42.599
 Understanding has been

00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:43.380
 a key theme

00:38:43.380 --> 00:38:44.240
 in this chapter.

00:38:44.720 --> 00:38:45.599
 It's full of parables

00:38:45.599 --> 00:38:46.099
 so far.

00:38:46.840 --> 00:38:48.139
 Earlier in verse 11,

00:38:48.139 --> 00:38:49.179
 Jesus rebukes

00:38:49.179 --> 00:38:49.819
 the unbelieving,

00:38:50.359 --> 00:38:51.480
 saying that they don't

00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:52.339
 have eyes to see,

00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:53.779
 ears to hear,

00:38:53.859 --> 00:38:55.400
 nor do they understand.

00:38:56.279 --> 00:38:57.519
 But to the disciples,

00:38:57.659 --> 00:38:58.500
 Jesus said to them,

00:38:59.219 --> 00:39:01.019
 to them it has not been given,

00:39:01.299 --> 00:39:02.099
 but to you

00:39:02.099 --> 00:39:03.480
 it has been given

00:39:03.480 --> 00:39:05.539
 to know the secrets

00:39:05.539 --> 00:39:06.799
 of the kingdom of heaven.

00:39:08.500 --> 00:39:09.799
 Now, if you know anything

00:39:09.799 --> 00:39:10.639
 about the disciples

00:39:10.639 --> 00:39:11.379
 in the gospels,

00:39:11.779 --> 00:39:13.259
 you know to question

00:39:13.259 --> 00:39:14.879
 whether they really understood

00:39:14.880 --> 00:39:16.900
 what Jesus is talking about.

00:39:18.340 --> 00:39:19.820
 But when the disciples

00:39:19.820 --> 00:39:21.260
 confidently respond

00:39:21.260 --> 00:39:22.019
 in verse 51,

00:39:22.440 --> 00:39:22.680
 saying,

00:39:23.599 --> 00:39:24.140
 yes, Jesus,

00:39:24.519 --> 00:39:25.260
 we get it.

00:39:25.840 --> 00:39:26.740
 We understand

00:39:26.740 --> 00:39:27.720
 all these things.

00:39:29.160 --> 00:39:30.780
 Jesus graciously agrees,

00:39:31.300 --> 00:39:32.640
 very graciously agrees,

00:39:32.840 --> 00:39:33.920
 and grants them

00:39:33.920 --> 00:39:35.260
 the honored title

00:39:35.260 --> 00:39:37.019
 of scribes.

00:39:38.440 --> 00:39:39.480
 Now, if you're familiar

00:39:39.480 --> 00:39:40.300
 with that title,

00:39:40.300 --> 00:39:42.780
 this was surprising

00:39:42.780 --> 00:39:43.780
 for two reasons.

00:39:44.420 --> 00:39:45.880
 Almost every time

00:39:45.880 --> 00:39:47.120
 you read of a scribe

00:39:47.120 --> 00:39:48.220
 in the gospel of Matthew,

00:39:48.680 --> 00:39:49.340
 that character

00:39:49.340 --> 00:39:50.940
 is not one of the good ones.

00:39:52.340 --> 00:39:54.000
 Though they're highly esteemed

00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:54.920
 in Jewish culture,

00:39:56.780 --> 00:39:57.420
 although they're seen

00:39:57.420 --> 00:39:58.940
 as scholars and teachers

00:39:58.940 --> 00:40:00.019
 and experts

00:40:00.019 --> 00:40:01.180
 in the Mosaic law,

00:40:01.760 --> 00:40:02.900
 they consistently

00:40:02.900 --> 00:40:04.480
 rejected Jesus,

00:40:05.320 --> 00:40:06.320
 testing him

00:40:06.320 --> 00:40:08.260
 against their man-made laws,

00:40:08.720 --> 00:40:09.820
 their man-made religion.

00:40:10.300 --> 00:40:12.539
 not only that,

00:40:12.660 --> 00:40:13.920
 none of his disciples

00:40:13.920 --> 00:40:17.240
 were ever formally trained

00:40:17.240 --> 00:40:20.360
 like these prestigious

00:40:20.360 --> 00:40:21.940
 scribes had.

00:40:23.260 --> 00:40:25.019
 They knew how to fish.

00:40:25.620 --> 00:40:26.300
 If you needed to fish,

00:40:26.380 --> 00:40:27.060
 they were your people.

00:40:27.860 --> 00:40:29.720
 If you needed to do your taxes,

00:40:30.019 --> 00:40:31.039
 Matthew might have been your guy.

00:40:31.840 --> 00:40:33.560
 But none were

00:40:33.560 --> 00:40:36.360
 rigorously trained as scribes.

00:40:37.100 --> 00:40:38.700
 But despite their lack

00:40:38.699 --> 00:40:39.439
 of education,

00:40:40.579 --> 00:40:41.679
 Jesus then compares

00:40:41.679 --> 00:40:43.879
 these blue-collar,

00:40:44.219 --> 00:40:44.939
 uneducated,

00:40:45.039 --> 00:40:45.739
 former fishermen

00:40:45.739 --> 00:40:47.759
 to scribes.

00:40:48.599 --> 00:40:50.039
 He bestows upon them

00:40:50.039 --> 00:40:51.099
 this honored title.

00:40:51.699 --> 00:40:52.819
 These are the ones

00:40:52.819 --> 00:40:53.759
 who have unearthed

00:40:54.379 --> 00:40:54.759
 the hiddenness

00:40:55.419 --> 00:40:56.199
 of the treasure,

00:40:56.399 --> 00:40:57.099
 of the pearl.

00:40:57.439 --> 00:40:58.480
 These are the true

00:40:58.480 --> 00:40:59.539
 biblical scholars

00:40:59.539 --> 00:41:00.759
 who see and understand

00:41:00.759 --> 00:41:02.159
 the reality

00:41:02.159 --> 00:41:03.399
 of the kingdom.

00:41:03.400 --> 00:41:05.119
 And so that these

00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:06.800
 blue-collar men,

00:41:08.320 --> 00:41:09.720
 these uneducated men,

00:41:10.900 --> 00:41:12.400
 Jesus then compares them

00:41:12.400 --> 00:41:13.460
 to rich,

00:41:14.079 --> 00:41:14.599
 powerful,

00:41:14.860 --> 00:41:15.940
 influential masters

00:41:15.940 --> 00:41:16.900
 of the house

00:41:16.900 --> 00:41:18.079
 who have gained

00:41:18.079 --> 00:41:19.420
 this incredible treasure

00:41:19.420 --> 00:41:20.880
 to share with others.

00:41:20.960 --> 00:41:21.300
 That's what

00:41:21.300 --> 00:41:23.059
 verse 51 and 52 say.

00:41:24.400 --> 00:41:25.099
 And what comes out

00:41:25.099 --> 00:41:25.599
 of this treasure?

00:41:26.860 --> 00:41:27.559
 Jesus calls it

00:41:27.559 --> 00:41:28.300
 what is of old

00:41:28.300 --> 00:41:29.240
 and what is of new.

00:41:30.180 --> 00:41:31.320
 What does that mean?

00:41:31.320 --> 00:41:34.200
 Here Jesus connects

00:41:34.200 --> 00:41:35.160
 these two ideas

00:41:35.160 --> 00:41:36.120
 of being a scribe

00:41:36.120 --> 00:41:37.519
 with great understanding

00:41:37.519 --> 00:41:38.680
 to a rich man

00:41:38.680 --> 00:41:40.080
 with great treasure.

00:41:40.580 --> 00:41:41.740
 Saying that the

00:41:41.740 --> 00:41:42.500
 teachings

00:41:42.500 --> 00:41:44.140
 are the treasure.

00:41:44.280 --> 00:41:44.720
 The teachings

00:41:44.720 --> 00:41:45.640
 are the treasure.

00:41:47.300 --> 00:41:48.080
 Jesus is likely

00:41:48.080 --> 00:41:48.800
 speaking of

00:41:48.800 --> 00:41:50.660
 old and new teachings

00:41:50.660 --> 00:41:51.220
 as in

00:41:51.220 --> 00:41:52.220
 the old

00:41:52.220 --> 00:41:53.360
 Hebrew scriptures,

00:41:53.559 --> 00:41:54.300
 our Old Testament

00:41:54.300 --> 00:41:55.440
 to the new teachings

00:41:55.440 --> 00:41:56.300
 about the kingdom

00:41:56.300 --> 00:41:56.880
 of heaven.

00:41:59.160 --> 00:42:00.260
 And from this chapter,

00:42:00.260 --> 00:42:01.960
 from these parables,

00:42:02.860 --> 00:42:03.440
 you might get

00:42:03.440 --> 00:42:03.960
 the impression

00:42:03.960 --> 00:42:05.860
 that the new teachings

00:42:05.860 --> 00:42:07.020
 are the only things

00:42:07.020 --> 00:42:07.520
 that matter.

00:42:09.100 --> 00:42:10.160
 Meaning that you can

00:42:10.160 --> 00:42:11.280
 leave behind the old.

00:42:12.560 --> 00:42:13.580
 On the flip side,

00:42:13.700 --> 00:42:14.520
 the scribes

00:42:14.520 --> 00:42:15.640
 and the Pharisees

00:42:15.640 --> 00:42:16.360
 who only knew

00:42:16.360 --> 00:42:17.540
 of the old

00:42:17.540 --> 00:42:19.100
 reject the new.

00:42:20.560 --> 00:42:22.220
 Both of these ideas,

00:42:22.320 --> 00:42:23.240
 they miss the mark.

00:42:24.600 --> 00:42:25.480
 The old and the new

00:42:25.480 --> 00:42:27.060
 are inseparable.

00:42:27.059 --> 00:42:28.739
 And they need

00:42:28.739 --> 00:42:29.719
 to be taught,

00:42:29.960 --> 00:42:30.779
 held together.

00:42:32.119 --> 00:42:32.799
 Jesus is clear

00:42:32.799 --> 00:42:33.420
 that he has come

00:42:33.420 --> 00:42:34.460
 not to wipe the slate

00:42:34.460 --> 00:42:35.679
 entirely clean,

00:42:36.199 --> 00:42:38.019
 but to finally reveal.

00:42:39.279 --> 00:42:40.039
 To reveal

00:42:40.039 --> 00:42:41.039
 what has been hidden

00:42:41.039 --> 00:42:42.759
 since the foundation

00:42:42.759 --> 00:42:43.279
 of the world.

00:42:43.360 --> 00:42:44.719
 That's what verse 35

00:42:44.719 --> 00:42:46.460
 of chapter 13 says.

00:42:48.139 --> 00:42:49.880
 Paul says so much

00:42:49.880 --> 00:42:50.860
 in Ephesians 3.

00:42:51.920 --> 00:42:52.380
 He says,

00:42:52.380 --> 00:42:52.940
 To me,

00:42:52.940 --> 00:42:54.180
 though I am the least

00:42:54.180 --> 00:42:54.980
 of all the saints,

00:42:55.320 --> 00:42:56.539
 his grace was given

00:42:56.539 --> 00:42:57.619
 to preach

00:42:57.619 --> 00:42:58.760
 to the Gentiles

00:42:58.760 --> 00:43:00.320
 the unsearchable

00:43:00.320 --> 00:43:01.500
 riches of Christ.

00:43:02.260 --> 00:43:03.420
 The unsearchable

00:43:03.420 --> 00:43:04.260
 riches of Christ.

00:43:04.800 --> 00:43:05.740
 And to bring to life

00:43:05.740 --> 00:43:06.360
 for everyone

00:43:06.360 --> 00:43:07.420
 what is the plan

00:43:07.420 --> 00:43:07.980
 of the mystery

00:43:07.980 --> 00:43:09.119
 hidden for ages

00:43:09.119 --> 00:43:09.619
 in God,

00:43:10.019 --> 00:43:11.300
 who created all things

00:43:11.300 --> 00:43:12.500
 so that through

00:43:12.500 --> 00:43:13.180
 the church

00:43:13.180 --> 00:43:14.680
 the manifold wisdom

00:43:14.680 --> 00:43:15.140
 of God

00:43:15.140 --> 00:43:16.119
 might be made known

00:43:16.119 --> 00:43:16.900
 to the rulers

00:43:16.900 --> 00:43:17.860
 and authorities

00:43:17.860 --> 00:43:18.780
 in the heavenly places.

00:43:18.780 --> 00:43:21.060
 This was according

00:43:21.060 --> 00:43:22.480
 to the eternal purpose

00:43:22.480 --> 00:43:23.880
 that he has realized

00:43:23.880 --> 00:43:25.360
 in Christ Jesus our Lord

00:43:25.360 --> 00:43:27.080
 in whom we have boldness

00:43:27.080 --> 00:43:27.960
 and access

00:43:27.960 --> 00:43:29.180
 with confidence

00:43:29.180 --> 00:43:30.540
 through our faith in him.

00:43:31.460 --> 00:43:33.560
 This is the perfect text

00:43:33.560 --> 00:43:34.180
 to understand

00:43:34.180 --> 00:43:34.980
 these two verses.

00:43:36.180 --> 00:43:38.019
 It is only in Christ

00:43:38.019 --> 00:43:38.820
 do we find

00:43:38.820 --> 00:43:40.400
 these unsearchable

00:43:40.400 --> 00:43:42.300
 new yet old,

00:43:42.380 --> 00:43:43.820
 old yet new treasures.

00:43:45.260 --> 00:43:46.400
 Do you guys understand too

00:43:46.400 --> 00:43:47.680
 verse 10 there?

00:43:47.679 --> 00:43:49.940
 These treasures

00:43:49.940 --> 00:43:51.299
 were hidden for the ages

00:43:51.299 --> 00:43:54.159
 even from heavenly beings.

00:43:55.759 --> 00:43:57.119
 Through us,

00:43:58.000 --> 00:43:59.500
 the church of Christ,

00:44:00.359 --> 00:44:01.139
 we show

00:44:01.139 --> 00:44:03.460
 even heavenly beings

00:44:03.460 --> 00:44:04.279
 like angels

00:44:04.279 --> 00:44:06.319
 what is the true revelation

00:44:06.319 --> 00:44:08.419
 of the mysteries of God

00:44:08.419 --> 00:44:09.619
 in Christ Jesus.

00:44:11.559 --> 00:44:12.739
 Today online,

00:44:13.819 --> 00:44:14.919
 there are thousands

00:44:14.919 --> 00:44:16.719
 and thousands of voices

00:44:16.719 --> 00:44:17.959
 that are competing

00:44:17.959 --> 00:44:19.199
 for your attention.

00:44:20.819 --> 00:44:22.439
 Scroll for 10 minutes

00:44:22.439 --> 00:44:24.339
 and you'll find video

00:44:24.339 --> 00:44:26.000
 after video

00:44:26.000 --> 00:44:27.179
 of people

00:44:27.179 --> 00:44:28.339
 who claim,

00:44:29.079 --> 00:44:30.519
 claim that they've discovered

00:44:30.519 --> 00:44:32.599
 new teaching,

00:44:33.739 --> 00:44:34.619
 a new insight,

00:44:35.139 --> 00:44:36.299
 a new way

00:44:36.299 --> 00:44:37.239
 to the good life.

00:44:38.459 --> 00:44:39.539
 Religious gurus,

00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:39.539
!

00:44:39.899 --> 00:44:40.619
 Influencers,

00:44:40.819 --> 00:44:41.739
 political pundits,

00:44:41.739 --> 00:44:43.099
 they're all saying

00:44:43.099 --> 00:44:44.539
 in their own unique way,

00:44:45.559 --> 00:44:46.779
 I'm the new thing

00:44:46.779 --> 00:44:47.759
 that you should listen to.

00:44:49.379 --> 00:44:51.199
 I have the new insight,

00:44:51.319 --> 00:44:52.439
 the new understanding

00:44:52.439 --> 00:44:54.000
 that you should pay attention to.

00:44:55.019 --> 00:44:55.859
 And you know what?

00:44:55.919 --> 00:44:56.419
 People do.

00:44:58.039 --> 00:44:59.259
 Millions and millions

00:44:59.259 --> 00:45:00.159
 of people watch

00:45:00.159 --> 00:45:01.639
 and follow these men,

00:45:01.759 --> 00:45:02.199
 these women.

00:45:03.479 --> 00:45:05.299
 But none,

00:45:06.079 --> 00:45:07.319
 none of these people

00:45:07.319 --> 00:45:08.679
 have the message

00:45:08.679 --> 00:45:09.739
 that was hidden

00:45:09.739 --> 00:45:10.759
 from the beginning

00:45:10.759 --> 00:45:11.359
 of time.

00:45:12.299 --> 00:45:13.379
 None of these people

00:45:13.379 --> 00:45:14.379
 have the message

00:45:14.379 --> 00:45:16.599
 that is new yet old,

00:45:16.679 --> 00:45:18.099
 that's old yet new.

00:45:18.979 --> 00:45:19.419
 We,

00:45:19.979 --> 00:45:20.359
 we,

00:45:20.519 --> 00:45:21.539
 the church of Christ,

00:45:21.739 --> 00:45:21.899
 do.

00:45:23.259 --> 00:45:24.639
 That's why Jesus says

00:45:24.639 --> 00:45:25.439
 in verse 51

00:45:25.439 --> 00:45:26.979
 that this identity

00:45:26.979 --> 00:45:28.079
 as a scribe,

00:45:28.139 --> 00:45:29.199
 as the master of the house,

00:45:29.519 --> 00:45:31.259
 is not just for the 12,

00:45:31.639 --> 00:45:33.879
 but it's for every scribe,

00:45:34.019 --> 00:45:35.939
 every disciple trained by him,

00:45:35.939 --> 00:45:37.959
 like you and me.

00:45:37.960 --> 00:45:39.740
 believer,

00:45:40.099 --> 00:45:41.820
 do you understand

00:45:41.820 --> 00:45:42.780
 and grasp

00:45:42.780 --> 00:45:44.519
 the value of your treasure?

00:45:45.440 --> 00:45:46.740
 You possess treasures

00:45:46.740 --> 00:45:48.280
 new and old,

00:45:48.880 --> 00:45:50.320
 the very treasures

00:45:50.320 --> 00:45:51.860
 that angels longed

00:45:51.860 --> 00:45:52.519
 to look at,

00:45:53.220 --> 00:45:54.240
 the very treasures

00:45:54.240 --> 00:45:55.059
 this blind

00:45:55.059 --> 00:45:56.720
 and confused world needs.

00:45:58.340 --> 00:45:59.480
 And this mystery

00:45:59.480 --> 00:46:01.340
 is not only true,

00:46:01.840 --> 00:46:03.840
 but it is good.

00:46:03.840 --> 00:46:07.700
 the full mystery

00:46:07.700 --> 00:46:08.660
 is revealed

00:46:08.660 --> 00:46:09.380
 in the work

00:46:09.380 --> 00:46:10.660
 and the worth

00:46:10.660 --> 00:46:12.039
 of Jesus Christ,

00:46:12.140 --> 00:46:12.660
 our Savior,

00:46:13.320 --> 00:46:14.340
 that by his death

00:46:14.340 --> 00:46:15.620
 and his resurrection,

00:46:16.059 --> 00:46:17.780
 we have full access

00:46:17.780 --> 00:46:19.360
 to the kingdom of heaven.

00:46:20.460 --> 00:46:21.539
 This is good news

00:46:21.539 --> 00:46:22.019
 for people

00:46:22.019 --> 00:46:23.100
 like you and me,

00:46:23.800 --> 00:46:24.480
 that a kingdom

00:46:24.480 --> 00:46:25.180
 that should have been

00:46:25.180 --> 00:46:25.780
 out of reach

00:46:25.780 --> 00:46:27.320
 for all of us

00:46:27.320 --> 00:46:28.579
 who are half-hearted,

00:46:29.240 --> 00:46:29.840
 distracted,

00:46:30.559 --> 00:46:31.059
 divided,

00:46:31.059 --> 00:46:32.099
 unsured,

00:46:32.299 --> 00:46:32.920
 discouraged,

00:46:33.079 --> 00:46:33.840
 weakened faith

00:46:33.840 --> 00:46:36.179
 because Jesus

00:46:36.179 --> 00:46:37.019
 has made a way

00:46:37.019 --> 00:46:40.039
 by dying on our behalf

00:46:40.039 --> 00:46:41.299
 for the complete atonement

00:46:41.299 --> 00:46:42.039
 for our sins.

00:46:42.440 --> 00:46:44.420
 We now have boldness

00:46:44.420 --> 00:46:45.480
 and access,

00:46:46.279 --> 00:46:46.860
 confidence

00:46:46.860 --> 00:46:47.980
 through what?

00:46:49.099 --> 00:46:50.779
 What did Ephesians 3 say?

00:46:50.840 --> 00:46:52.920
 It's not by our perfection,

00:46:53.239 --> 00:46:54.420
 not by our performance,

00:46:54.619 --> 00:46:55.340
 not by selling

00:46:55.340 --> 00:46:56.259
 all that we have

00:46:56.259 --> 00:46:57.539
 and going on missions.

00:46:58.340 --> 00:46:59.679
 It's not by that.

00:46:59.679 --> 00:47:01.139
 It's by faith.

00:47:02.619 --> 00:47:03.559
 We read these verses

00:47:03.559 --> 00:47:06.500
 for our assurance of pardon,

00:47:06.699 --> 00:47:07.839
 but God,

00:47:08.480 --> 00:47:09.199
 but God,

00:47:10.500 --> 00:47:12.399
 being rich in mercy

00:47:12.399 --> 00:47:14.239
 because of the great love

00:47:14.239 --> 00:47:15.379
 with which he loved us,

00:47:15.879 --> 00:47:17.059
 even when we were dead

00:47:17.059 --> 00:47:17.899
 in our trespasses,

00:47:18.000 --> 00:47:19.059
 made us alive together

00:47:19.059 --> 00:47:19.579
 with Christ.

00:47:19.899 --> 00:47:20.440
 By grace,

00:47:20.480 --> 00:47:21.419
 you have been saved

00:47:21.419 --> 00:47:23.179
 and raised us up with him

00:47:23.179 --> 00:47:24.299
 and seated us with him

00:47:24.299 --> 00:47:25.259
 in the heavenly places

00:47:25.259 --> 00:47:26.119
 in Christ Jesus

00:47:26.119 --> 00:47:27.940
 so that in the coming ages

00:47:27.940 --> 00:47:28.880
 he might show

00:47:28.880 --> 00:47:30.480
 the immeasurable riches

00:47:30.480 --> 00:47:31.440
 of his grace

00:47:31.440 --> 00:47:33.440
 and kindness towards us

00:47:33.440 --> 00:47:34.679
 in Christ Jesus.

00:47:35.300 --> 00:47:36.260
 For by grace,

00:47:36.760 --> 00:47:38.380
 you have been saved

00:47:38.380 --> 00:47:39.840
 through faith

00:47:39.840 --> 00:47:41.460
 and this is not

00:47:41.460 --> 00:47:42.519
 your own doing.

00:47:42.659 --> 00:47:43.840
 It is the gift of God,

00:47:43.960 --> 00:47:45.320
 not a result of works

00:47:45.320 --> 00:47:47.679
 so that no one may boast.

00:47:47.679 --> 00:47:50.919
 once you see

00:47:50.919 --> 00:47:52.339
 the incredible riches

00:47:52.339 --> 00:47:53.460
 of mercy

00:47:53.460 --> 00:47:54.079
 that he has

00:47:54.079 --> 00:47:54.639
 towards sinners

00:47:54.639 --> 00:47:55.379
 like you and me,

00:47:56.440 --> 00:47:57.159
 your heart

00:47:57.159 --> 00:47:58.379
 can't help,

00:47:58.739 --> 00:47:59.460
 it can't help

00:47:59.460 --> 00:48:01.279
 but to bubble up in joy,

00:48:01.659 --> 00:48:03.579
 to treasure Jesus Christ,

00:48:03.799 --> 00:48:05.159
 to know the worth

00:48:05.159 --> 00:48:05.719
 of the kingdom

00:48:05.719 --> 00:48:06.500
 and be willing

00:48:06.500 --> 00:48:07.619
 more and more

00:48:07.619 --> 00:48:08.199
 every day

00:48:08.199 --> 00:48:08.779
 to sell

00:48:08.779 --> 00:48:09.440
 and to renounce

00:48:09.440 --> 00:48:11.099
 all that you have,

00:48:11.219 --> 00:48:11.940
 to see it all

00:48:11.940 --> 00:48:12.759
 as dung,

00:48:13.099 --> 00:48:13.919
 as worthless

00:48:13.919 --> 00:48:15.000
 compared to just

00:48:15.000 --> 00:48:16.639
 gaining this one pearl.

00:48:16.639 --> 00:48:19.879
 and when he becomes

00:48:19.879 --> 00:48:21.379
 your supreme delight,

00:48:22.179 --> 00:48:23.779
 you can say

00:48:23.779 --> 00:48:24.759
 this quote

00:48:24.759 --> 00:48:25.980
 with true conviction.

00:48:26.679 --> 00:48:27.639
 This quote is one

00:48:27.639 --> 00:48:28.259
 that we heard

00:48:28.259 --> 00:48:29.379
 that I think

00:48:29.379 --> 00:48:30.659
 impacted all of

00:48:30.659 --> 00:48:31.679
 our pastoral team

00:48:31.679 --> 00:48:33.279
 at this pastor's conference

00:48:33.279 --> 00:48:33.920
 this last week

00:48:33.920 --> 00:48:34.659
 that I wanted

00:48:34.659 --> 00:48:35.420
 to share with you

00:48:35.420 --> 00:48:38.539
 and it is my deepest prayer

00:48:38.539 --> 00:48:40.339
 that God may make us

00:48:40.339 --> 00:48:41.460
 men and women

00:48:41.460 --> 00:48:44.359
 who can boldly confess this

00:48:44.359 --> 00:48:46.139
 to the entire world.

00:48:46.639 --> 00:48:51.819
 I love

00:48:51.819 --> 00:48:53.159
 Jesus Christ

00:48:53.159 --> 00:48:56.219
 and as I say it,

00:48:57.099 --> 00:48:58.679
 I want to make clear

00:48:58.679 --> 00:48:59.239
 what I mean.

00:49:00.179 --> 00:49:01.299
 I admire

00:49:01.299 --> 00:49:02.480
 Jesus Christ

00:49:02.480 --> 00:49:03.139
 more than

00:49:03.139 --> 00:49:04.920
 any other human

00:49:04.920 --> 00:49:06.279
 or angelic being.

00:49:07.440 --> 00:49:08.559
 I enjoy

00:49:08.559 --> 00:49:09.339
 his ways

00:49:09.339 --> 00:49:10.579
 and his words

00:49:10.579 --> 00:49:11.879
 more than I enjoy

00:49:11.879 --> 00:49:12.859
 the ways and words

00:49:12.859 --> 00:49:13.779
 of anyone else.

00:49:13.780 --> 00:49:15.740
 I want

00:49:15.740 --> 00:49:16.580
 his approval

00:49:16.580 --> 00:49:17.580
 more than I want

00:49:17.580 --> 00:49:18.140
 the approval

00:49:18.140 --> 00:49:19.240
 of anyone else.

00:49:20.240 --> 00:49:21.300
 I want to be

00:49:21.300 --> 00:49:21.820
 with him

00:49:21.820 --> 00:49:23.500
 more than I want

00:49:23.500 --> 00:49:24.580
 to be with anyone else.

00:49:25.580 --> 00:49:26.840
 I feel more

00:49:26.840 --> 00:49:27.900
 grateful to him

00:49:27.900 --> 00:49:28.940
 for what he has done

00:49:28.940 --> 00:49:29.480
 for me

00:49:29.480 --> 00:49:30.240
 than I do

00:49:30.240 --> 00:49:31.320
 to anyone else.

00:49:32.019 --> 00:49:33.620
 I trust his words

00:49:33.620 --> 00:49:34.840
 more fully

00:49:34.840 --> 00:49:35.800
 than I trust

00:49:35.800 --> 00:49:36.820
 what anyone else

00:49:36.820 --> 00:49:37.260
 says.

00:49:37.260 --> 00:49:39.660
 I am more glad

00:49:39.660 --> 00:49:41.540
 in his exaltation

00:49:41.540 --> 00:49:43.140
 than in the exaltation

00:49:43.140 --> 00:49:44.260
 of anyone else

00:49:44.260 --> 00:49:45.620
 including me.

00:49:49.380 --> 00:49:50.360
 Would you pray

00:49:50.360 --> 00:49:50.720
 with me

00:49:50.720 --> 00:49:51.840
 that we would be

00:49:51.840 --> 00:49:52.960
 people like this?

00:49:52.960 --> 00:49:56.860
 Lord God

00:49:56.860 --> 00:49:57.639
 we thank you

00:49:57.639 --> 00:49:58.960
 that because of

00:49:58.960 --> 00:49:59.559
 your mercy

00:49:59.559 --> 00:50:00.199
 and grace

00:50:00.199 --> 00:50:01.679
 we are of

00:50:01.679 --> 00:50:02.220
 these people

00:50:02.220 --> 00:50:02.980
 that can say

00:50:02.980 --> 00:50:04.119
 I love

00:50:04.119 --> 00:50:05.240
 Jesus Christ.

00:50:05.380 --> 00:50:06.000
 Make that a

00:50:06.000 --> 00:50:06.659
 bigger

00:50:06.659 --> 00:50:08.159
 more tangible

00:50:08.159 --> 00:50:09.440
 more fervent

00:50:09.440 --> 00:50:10.960
 reality in our lives

00:50:10.960 --> 00:50:11.820
 that we would say

00:50:11.820 --> 00:50:13.159
 I love Jesus Christ

00:50:13.159 --> 00:50:13.500
 and that

00:50:13.500 --> 00:50:14.639
 everything else

00:50:14.639 --> 00:50:15.579
 pales in comparison

00:50:15.579 --> 00:50:16.840
 to following him.

00:50:17.179 --> 00:50:18.079
 That he is this

00:50:18.079 --> 00:50:19.559
 rare jewel

00:50:19.559 --> 00:50:21.500
 this precious pearl

00:50:21.500 --> 00:50:22.760
 that we are willing

00:50:22.760 --> 00:50:23.619
 to say no

00:50:23.619 --> 00:50:24.579
 to everything else

00:50:24.579 --> 00:50:25.800
 and gain all

00:50:25.800 --> 00:50:26.500
 that we have

00:50:26.500 --> 00:50:27.440
 in Jesus Christ

00:50:27.440 --> 00:50:28.340
 that as we're

00:50:28.340 --> 00:50:28.880
 about to sing

00:50:28.880 --> 00:50:30.199
 may we declare

00:50:30.199 --> 00:50:31.300
 that Christ

00:50:31.300 --> 00:50:32.219
 is enough.

00:50:33.880 --> 00:50:34.619
 I renounce

00:50:34.619 --> 00:50:36.199
 all in the world

00:50:36.199 --> 00:50:37.440
 the world behind me

00:50:37.440 --> 00:50:40.460
 the cross before me

00:50:40.460 --> 00:50:44.019
 make us

00:50:44.019 --> 00:50:45.519
 people of your kingdom

00:50:45.519 --> 00:50:46.800
 that treasure you

00:50:46.800 --> 00:50:47.380
 above all.

00:50:48.159 --> 00:50:48.699
 In Jesus name

00:50:48.699 --> 00:50:49.239
 we pray.

00:50:49.840 --> 00:50:50.179
 Amen.

00:50:51.500 --> 00:50:52.500
 Amen.

00:50:52.500 --> 00:50:52.500


00:50:52.500 --> 00:50:52.500


00:50:52.500 --> 00:50:52.500


00:50:52.500 --> 00:50:52.500