This morning we continue in our study through the gospel according to Matthew as we consider Matthew 13:44-58. In our text this morning Jesus teaches about the worth of the kingdom, the right response of joyful sacrifice, the final separation at the end of the age, and the wrong kind of response in offense and unbelief. Jesus shows us that if you see the surpassing value of the kingdom, you'll joyfully give everything for it and spend a lifetime of treasuring God and sharing treasure with others.

The good news of the gospel is that while all deserve to be gathered, separated, and thrown out of God's presence for their rejection of his kingdom, God gave up his son for sinners. God doesn't remove justice or cancel judgement. Jesus bears the judgment in our place. Jesus was dragged ashore and thrown out. Jesus was treated as worthless so that those who formerly viewed God as worthless, might be declared worthy in his sight by faith. Jesus is the treasure who was rejected and buried, but rose again. When you see Jesus, for the joy set before him, giving up everything for you, you'll give up everything for him. Would God give us grace to understand these things, having ears to hear and eyes to see the surpassing value of Jesus and his kingdom. Would we respond in joyful sacrifice for a lifetime of enjoying, communing, and treasuring God while we share this treasure with others.