Bible Parables S2E8 : The Parable Of The Hidden Treasure

This is a live session recording where we delve into the timeless wisdom of The Parable Of The Hidden Treasure and its practical application in our daily lives. This session is part of an ongoing series where we explore how biblical teachings can guide us in living fulfilling lives.
In this session, we will explore the deeper meaning behind the parable and offer practical insights for bringing more compassion and connection into our daily lives.

This session includes a guided reflective meditation which will gently lead you through a journey of inner reflection and healing.

Come prepared to reflect on your own journey, engage with thought-provoking ideas, and leave inspired to create a life filled with purpose and abundance. This session is welcoming to all, regardless of religious background or familiarity with the Bible.

Transcript

The parable of the hidden treasure.

It's from Matthew chapter 13 verse 44 and the parable goes again.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which a man found and hid and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

So let me read the parable again.

Again the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which a man found and hid and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

And that's the parable.

It's a very very short parable,

Just a couple of sentences.

On the face of it,

The traditional interpretation would be that this parable illustrates the immense value of the kingdom of heaven and the joy that comes when we discover it.

The suggestion is that spiritual riches are worth any sacrifice,

Are worth the sacrifice that we need to make for them.

So we'll now go into the parable sentence by sentence trying to understand or trying to extract meaning,

Wisdom and insight from it.

And it starts with again the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.

The kingdom of heaven.

What does the kingdom of heaven mean to you?

The kingdom of heaven is not some distant paradise.

The kingdom of heaven is here.

It can be experienced here in the life that we are living.

For some of us the kingdom of heaven may look like having a peaceful life.

For some of us the kingdom of heaven could mean having good health.

For others of us the kingdom of heaven could look like having a strong relationship.

And for somebody else the kingdom of heaven could be having a good career,

Having a good job,

Doing something that fills their life with purpose and meaning.

So the kingdom of heaven could mean many things to many people.

And in this sentence it says the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field.

And what is the field?

The field is simply the arena of the life that we are living.

Our life is the field.

Our relationships is the field.

Our careers is the field.

Our spirituality is the field.

Our hobbies are the field.

That thing of value that you're looking for,

The kingdom of heaven,

The treasure,

It's like a treasure hidden in the field.

So you can think in terms of an inner awakening or spiritual fulfillment or the divine connection that already exists within you.

A hidden talent that you already have,

That you've not tapped into.

Something that's already there but it's hidden from your current awareness.

When you're thinking in terms of your daily life,

Think of what is your life's purpose and what joy and wisdom could be hidden in your daily experiences.

Many of us live on autopilot.

We are unaware of the depth of wisdom,

The peace,

The potential within us.

Spending some time trying to uncover what are the hidden treasures within us.

What are the hidden treasures that I'm looking for?

What is the hidden treasure in the area of my health?

What is the hidden treasure in the area of my relationships?

The parable goes on which a man found and hid.

When we discover something powerful like a truth,

A realization or some deep understanding,

It is suggested that we should protect it.

Because an awakening,

A realization,

It's often very personal and you need to take some time to nurture it before sharing it with the world.

Sometimes we have these profound insights about life,

About love,

About purpose,

About a certain project that we want to undertake.

Maybe it's a book that we want to write,

Maybe it's an art piece we want to finish,

Maybe it's a course we want to study.

The suggestion here when it says which a man found and hid could be seen as instead of rushing to explain it to others because sometimes that's what we tend to do when we find something new,

When we discover something new,

We rush to tell other people about it.

What is suggested here is before rushing out and telling it to others,

Take some time to integrate it into your daily life.

When you uncover passion,

When you uncover calling,

When you uncover some meaningful goal,

Guard it from external distractions at least until it is strong enough to grow.

Many breakthroughs,

Whether it's in healing,

Whether it's in therapy,

Whether it's in self-discovery,

Take some time for them to settle.

Give it some time for those discoveries to settle.

Protect your dreams,

Protect your personal growth from negativity in the same way that the man hid the treasure and the sentence goes on and for joy over it.

Because when we discover something new,

Something meaningful,

It brings us joy,

It doesn't bring us fear,

It doesn't bring us anxiety,

It brings us deep fulfillment.

There are these certain things in life that when we find them,

We feel this pure excitement.

So,

As we go about living our daily life,

Try to be aware of what sparks joy in your life.

Pay attention to moments that make you feel alive,

Moments that make you feel at peace,

Moments that make you feel deeply connected and when you start noticing those moments,

It's a sign that you're moving on the right path,

It's a sign that you're on the right journey.

Joy is a sign of alignment because when you find something that excites you,

It's a clue that you're moving towards personal fulfillment.

So,

Try to train yourself to use joy as a compass because sometimes,

Many of us when we experience joy in our life,

We start to become a bit wary of it and we feel like we don't deserve it.

So,

Try to train yourself to use joy as a compass in your life and the parable goes further,

He goes and sells all that he has.

When you find something that is worth it,

You should be willing to let go of things that don't align with what you want to do in life.

Most of the time,

Growth,

Whether it's spiritual growth,

Whether it's personal growth,

It often requires a sacrifice.

Sacrifice in terms of releasing what is not serving you.

When it comes to releasing something,

A good question to ask is what am I holding on to that is holding me back or that is preventing me from embracing my true joy and my true purpose.

Old beliefs,

Toxic habits,

Fears,

Limiting beliefs,

We need to release these,

We need to let go of these.

So,

Whether it's a relationship,

Whether it's a career,

Whether it's simply moving from a growth mindset,

It often requires surrendering comfort for something far greater.

Think of it like trading short-term security for long-term fulfillment and the parable goes further,

It ends with and buys that field.

The man simply doesn't just take the treasure,

He invests in the entire field.

One way to look at this is anything that you are drawn to,

The treasure that you have identified in whichever area of your life,

It requires full commitment from yourself in order to develop that treasure,

In order to use that treasure wisely.

For lasting fulfillment,

We have to commit,

Whether it's personal healing,

Whether it's relationship,

Whether it's a creative pursuit,

Whether it's a life purpose,

Most of the time we try to chase quick rewards.

So,

Put in the time,

Put in the effort,

Put in the dedication needed to own the journey,

Try to play the long game instead of looking for these small wins.

So,

How do I apply this parable in my daily life?

Firstly,

Look for the hidden treasure,

Always be looking for the hidden treasure.

Pay attention to what brings you deep joy,

What brings you peace,

What gives you a sense of purpose.

So,

Firstly look for the hidden treasure.

Secondly,

Protect and nurture your discoveries.

When you have these big insights,

When you have these big dreams,

Before sharing them with others,

Give them some time to grow inside of you,

Give them some time to take strong roots.

Thirdly,

Trust joy as a guide.

If there's something lighting up inside you,

It's a clue that you're on the right path towards what truly matters.

Fourthly,

And very importantly,

Be willing to let go.

Because sometimes,

In fact most of the time,

When we are starting something new,

We need to release something,

We need to release old attachments,

We need to release fears,

We need to release beliefs that don't serve us.

And finally,

Commit fully by the whole field.

When you find that thing which is truly valuable in your life,

Commit fully,

Go all in.

Whether it's your personal growth,

Whether it's your faith,

Whether it's your relationships,

Whether it's your creativity,

Whether it's your spirituality,

When you find that thing and you know that this is what you've been looking for,

Commit fully.

So we'll now go into a guided meditation.

And this is a meditation based on the parable of the hidden treasure.

So if you're sitting,

Let yourself sink into the surface that you're sitting on.

If you're sleeping,

Feel the surface beneath you support you.

If you're moving around,

Simply try to relax a bit more.

If it is safe to do so,

You can close your eyes.

And if you're not comfortable closing your eyes,

You can simply lower your gaze towards the floor.

And bring your attention to your breath.

Feel the breath as you inhale and exhale.

Your natural breath.

Moving in and moving out of your body.

With every exhale,

Let go of any worries,

Let go of any tension,

Let go of any distraction.

This time is for you.

This time is for you to uncover the hidden treasure within you.

Take a deep breath in and release.

And imagine yourself standing before a washed open field.

The air is warm.

The sky is golden with the soft glow of the sun.

This is your inner world,

A place where all possibilities exist.

This field is your consciousness.

This field is the soil of your mind where thoughts are planted and realities grow.

You start walking slowly through the field,

Your feet touching the soft earth.

You feel connected to something deeper,

Something ancient.

This is your divine connection.

Infinite intelligence.

As you walk,

You start to sense a deep knowing,

A deep knowing stirring within you.

Something has been waiting for you here,

Hidden beneath the surface.

Waiting to be discovered.

A little ahead,

You see a glowing light beneath the soil.

Something is buried there.

You kneel down and begin to brush away the earth with your hands.

With each movement,

You start to uncover something radiant,

Golden,

Powerful.

A treasure chest embedded deep within your consciousness.

A treasure chest embedded deep within you.

This is your hidden treasure.

This is the truth of who you really are.

The divine power within you.

Your infinite potential.

What does this treasure symbolize for you?

Simply listen.

What does this treasure symbolize for you?

Could this treasure represent wisdom or love?

Confidence,

Maybe abundance.

Or maybe healing.

Your hands rest on the treasure chest.

It is warm,

Vibrating with energy.

A gift that has always belonged to you.

Now you gently open the lid.

Inside,

You see a radiant light.

A radiant light.

This is your divine inheritance.

This is your unbreakable connection to the creative force of the universe.

And suddenly you realize,

Everything I have ever sought,

Peace,

Joy,

Love,

Fulfillment,

Has always been within me.

Everything I have ever sought has always been within me.

Let this truth settle in.

And as you let the truth settle in,

Feel the warmth of divine presence filling your heart.

This treasure was never missing.

It was simply hidden beneath old beliefs,

Beneath doubts,

Beneath fears,

Beneath distractions.

You have found the truth.

You are limitless,

Connected.

You are already whole.

As you gaze at the treasure,

A deep sense of joy wells up inside you.

A voice is heard inside you.

A voice within whispers.

This is yours.

This has always been yours.

No one can take it from you.

You feel light,

Free.

You feel radiant with possibility.

This joy is not just an emotion.

This joy is a knowing,

A recognition that you are supported,

Guided,

And infinitely capable.

Breathe in this joy and exhale gratitude.

And suddenly you recall the next part of the parable.

For joy over it,

He goes and sells all that he has and buys that treasure.

He buys that field.

And you understand that to fully embrace this treasure,

You must release what no longer serves you.

And see yourself standing before a small flickering fire in the field.

A small flickering fire.

And bring to mind old beliefs,

Fears,

Doubts.

All the things that have kept you from seeing this treasure before.

What are you ready to let go of?

Fear of failure,

Self-doubt,

Limiting beliefs about love,

Success,

Or abundance.

What are you willing to let go?

And one by one,

Place them into the fire.

Watch them dissolve into light.

And as you do this,

Feel the weight lifting off from you.

A sense of relief,

A sense of expansion,

A sense of freedom settles over you.

Now you are fully aligned with the treasure.

You own the field.

You claim your inheritance.

You are no longer separate from the power within you.

You are the treasure.

And as you prepare to leave the field,

You feel different,

Lighter,

Stronger,

Radiant with clarity.

You know that when you return to your daily life,

You will carry this truth with you.

This treasure is not something you can lose.

This treasure is who you are.

It is always within you,

Guiding you,

Supporting you,

Empowering you.

Affirm in your heart,

I have discovered the hidden treasure within me.

I claim my divine inheritance.

I release all doubt and fear.

I live in joy,

Abundance,

And peace.

The kingdom of heaven is within me.

And with one final deep breath,

Slowly bring your awareness back to the present moment.

Breathe in.

Hold.

And release.

Wiggle your fingers,

Wiggle your toes.

And when you are ready,

If your eyes were closed,

You can now open your eyes.

So the parable of the hidden treasure.

And applying this,

Applying this in my daily life.

Take some time today.

10 minutes,

5 minutes,

10 minutes.

Not too much time,

A little bit of time.

Whatever amount of time you are comfortable with.

Write down one hidden treasure in your life.

Something deeply valuable that you may have overlooked.

Or maybe something that you have not fully embraced.

It could be a talent or a passion that you have neglected.

It could be a spiritual realization that brings you peace.

It could be a relationship that nurtures your soul.

It could be an opportunity that you have not acted upon.

Or it could be a dream or a goal that you have hesitated to pursue.

So take 5 to 10 minutes today.

Reflect and write down one hidden treasure in your life.

Once you have done that,

Acknowledge it.

Say to yourself,

This is my hidden treasure.

I choose to claim it.

And once you have done that,

Take one small action towards embracing it.

And take that action today.

If it's a talent,

Start practicing it.

If it's a passion,

Schedule some time during the day.

So you can pursue that passion.

Send gratitude to someone.

Or the first step toward a goal.

Maybe that book that you wanted to read.

Or maybe that art piece that you wanted to start.

Or maybe even the book you wanted to write.

And very important,

Protect it and nurture it.

Keep this treasure close to you.

You don't need to disclose it to anyone.

Keep this treasure close to you.

Let it take root.

Let it become strong.

Keep it in your awareness.

Build upon it daily.

And when the time is right,

Then you can share it with the world.

So whatever is your hidden treasure,

Identify it now and take action.

And in any area of your life,

Whether it's your spirituality,

Whether it's your relationships,

Whether it's your health or well-being.

For example,

Let's take the example of relationships.

So look for the hidden treasure in your relationships.

Who in your life brings out the best in you?

Who in your life brings out the best in you?

Which relationships feel enriching,

Authentic and uplifting?

Those are the hidden treasures in your relationships.

Protect and nurture your discoveries.

So when you find a deep connection in your relationship,

Whether it's romantic,

Whether it's friendship,

Whether it's a mentorship,

Don't rush it.

Don't try to push it.

Let it grow organically.

Trust joy as a guide.

If spending time with a certain person brings you joy,

Brings you peace,

Brings you emotional nourishment,

Prioritize those relationships.

And then be willing to let go.

Release toxic relationships.

Release connections based on obligation,

Based on fear,

Based on guilt.

Holding onto what drains you prevents you from creating meaningful bonds.

So the concept or the message of the parable of the hidden treasure,

You can apply it to any area of your life.

Thank you everyone for being here.

Love,

Light,

Blessings.

Namaste.

Reviews

Still uncertain as to my treasure 💎 and will keep pondering, thanks Leslie