The Kingdom of Heaven - like treasure (Matthew 13.44)

[Katherine]

Yesterday, in the Scripture I read, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." - Matthew 13:44

I understand what the treasure is in reference to us Christians, but why does the man who found the treasure go and hide it in the field again before he goes and sells everything he has in order to not only then obtain the treasure, but also the field?

If anyone can enlighten me on this treasure, the field, and it's hiding etc., I would be more than appreciative.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Yesterday, in the Scripture I read, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." - Matthew 13:44

I understand what the treasure is in reference to us Christians, but why does the man who found the treasure go and hide it in the field again before he goes and sells everything he has in order to not only then obtain the treasure, but also the field?

If anyone can enlighten me on this treasure, the field, and it's hiding etc., I would be more than appreciative.

In the Explanation by the Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew he says about this passage:


The field is the world, the treasure is the preaching and knowledge of Christ. It is hidden in the world. For as St. Paul says, We preach a wisdom that is hidden.


Perhaps about this we could say that the Kingdom of God is that greatest of treasures which is hidden from the eyes of the present world. When through Christ we begin to be aware of the Kingdom we need to store this knowledge away in the treasury of our hearts until we are able to increase it through a life of self-sacrifice and struggle in Christ.

In Christ- Fr Raphael