The Yoke of Yeshua
A Devotional Bible Study On the Entire Life of Jesus Christ Based on a Harmony of the Four Gospels
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112. The Treasure
Hidden in a field.
Mat. 13:44
In the previous two parables, Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to inexpensive things: leaven and a mustard seed. In the next two, He compared His kingdom to things of great value: a treasure and a pearl.
The person who discovered the treasure was not in search of a treasure. The field did not belong to him. He was just tending a flock or plowing a rented field. Then he saw something that aroused his curiosity, maybe a protruding piece of rock or wood in the soil. When he investigated further, he found, to his utter amazement and excitement, a treasure hidden in the ground. Maybe it was coins or jewels.
He looked around to make sure nobody had noticed his activity, then he covered the treasure again, and started to work on a plan. Eventually he decided to sell everything he owned to buy that piece of land with its hidden treasure. Then the land and the treasure would be his.
The same thing happens in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus said. One visits a place one has visited many times before (like a church), or one does something one has done many times before (like reading the Bible), and unexpectedly a treasure of truth is suddenly opened to you. The scales fall from your eyes (Acts 9:18), and you know you have discovered something of overwhelming importance. Immediately it becomes first priority.
To have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and to accept him as your personal Savior is such a treasure-experience. Everything that has been important to you up to this point, now seems worthless, and you gladly part with that to make this treasure your own. The old sinful life-style is part of the trash you gladly get rid of.
Paul describes this experience in his life: "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith." (Phil. 3:7-9).
When Paul had exchanged his rubbish for God’s treasure, he never looked back with regret on this bargain.
A prayer: Jesus, You are the treasure in my field.
A thought: Do I notice and enjoy the treasures God puts into my field?
113. The Pearl Of great value.
Mat. 13:45-46
The fellow who discovered the treasure in the field stumbled over it by accident. The merchant in this parable traveled around, purposely seeking excellent pearls, until he eventually found what he was looking for, an extraordinary pearl of great value. Some discover the kingdom of heaven unexpectedly, while others come to it only after a long search.
The long painful way a pearl is formed in the shell is symbolic of the long, painful search of the merchant. Sometimes there is a long, arduous search before one get to the pearl of great value. Many have made this painful journey. Jacob struggled with God and men (Gen. 32:28) for twenty years before he was reborn as "Israel". Joseph suffered many hardships before he was exalted as ruler of Egypt and discovered the purpose of his life.
As a young man, David had to flee from Saul. He was thirty years old before he changed from refugee to king. Jesus worked as a carpenter until He was thirty before He started His glorious ministry. The disciples did ordinary work before they were called to start the Christian church.
Since Jesus was talking about the kingdom of heaven, this pearl represented the gospel He was bringing. This pearl is Peace-with-God. Neither angel nor man can buy it. Many people tried in vain to buy this pearl with good works, like Paul, Augustine, and Luther did until they found the pearl of great value: salvation bought by the blood of Christ. Augustine expressed this reality in a phrase that has become renowned in the Christian world: "The soul of man is restless until it rests in God." Sell everything you have, push everything aside to pursue this goal. Peace with God through Christ—the pearl of great value!
The pearl may also have a secondary meaning: peace-with-myself. Real peace with oneself is dependent on peace with God. Once you have found peace with God, you can start searching for peace with yourself. You may have to make peace with some bad things in your past or present before you can embrace your wonderful potential for the future.
It may be an ideal or a dream, a job or a hobby, an adventure or a journey, a charity or a ministry, writing a book or creating a work of art. Go for it! Mobilize all you are and all you have to reach this goal, and enjoy this fulfilling purpose in life. Climb the mountain one step at a time.
A prayer: God, help me to keep searching for the pearl of great value.
A thought: Do I know what I’m searching for?
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About the Book
Yeshua or Yahshua is the Hebrew form of the name JESUS. Yeshua means the LORD’s salvation—the perfect name for the Savior.
Yeshua took our hard yoke of sin on Himself and He placed a soft yoke of devotion on us. He said, “Take my yoke upon you ... and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy.”
Real peace is linked to a yoke. To discover the secret of this paradox, one has to study Yeshua’s life. He has relieved millions of their burdens and inspired them with new energy.
The Yoke of Yeshua harmonizes the four gospels into one story. It shows how events followed each other and then it explains their meaning in context.
About the Author
Dr. Jacob M Van Zyl has practiced pastoral counseling in churches and clinics for over thirty years. As counselor, he puts himself into the shoes of his clients, and as Bible student, he puts himself into the shoes of Bible characters.
His training and experience in both theology and psychology show in his understanding of the Bible (its language, events, and messages) and in his understanding of people (their views, attitudes and actions).
When he retired, God showed him the next step: sharing his Bible-studies with others. He has finished a trilogy recently: The Yearning of Yahveh (about the Old Testament), The Yoke of Yeshua (about the four gospels), and The Yeast of Yerushalaim (about the rest of the New Testament). The whole Bible is explained to the whole world, one page per day.