Matthew 13:44/ What's Jesus Worth?
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." Matthew 13:44
Two-thousand years ago on Wednesday, April 1, A.D. 33 a man sold out God for 30 pieces of silver. After berating a woman for anointing Jesus with "very expensive ointment," Judas proceeded to make a deal with the chief priests who want Jesus dead. Here's Matthew's account:
14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. Matthew 26:14-16
Thirty pieces of silver represented 4 months' wages at that time. Judas' love of money was evident. His foolishness was too in thinking he could thwart God's plan.
We know this first because the exact reward for this betrayal was prophesized in Zechariah 11:12-13. In that context Israel was rejecting their good leaders and embracing bad leaders, which is what Judas was doing here in rejecting Jesus. Secondly, we know this is part of God's plan because Jesus said this regarding one of his twelve:
"I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’" John 13:18.
Judas was not thwarting God's plan by betraying Jesus, Judas was advancing God's plan. And in the process, he brought a death sentence on himself! The tragedy of Judas' greed is contrasted by Jesus' teaching a few chapters back in Matthew as He describes the Kingdom of Heaven. He said,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." Matthew 13:44
This is a man with a heart for God. A man that sees the true value of Jesus. While Judas gave up Jesus for some shiny rocks, this man gave up everything to gain Jesus—who grants access to the Kingdom of Heaven.
There's a missionary from the Pacific Northwest named Jim Elliot. He--along with four missionary partners and friends--were martyred trying to reach an Indian tribe in Ecuador with the Gospel. A few years before Elliot would die on the mission field, he famously wrote in his journal:
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."
In the end, Judas wouldn't keep the silver anyway. He gave up His Savior for silver and ended up losing both.
I pray we reject the heart of Judas and reflect the heart of the man who found the treasure in the field. I pray this brings us joy as it did for him. I pray we find ourselves willing to give it all in gaining Christ. He's worth all we have, and we are not fools for giving up everything to gain Him.
If you want to dig deeper into this, need help, need prayer, or have questions—please reach out to us here.
In Christ,
Pastor Kevin