TO MANY, EVEN to his own disciples, Jesus spoke in riddles. In Matthew 13, we read of a time when the crowd that gathered around him grew so large that he had to teach them from a boat while they stood on the shore. He told them parable after parable, beginning with the so-called Parable of the Sower — which many have rightly called the Parable of the Soils instead. The story isn’t about the sower; it’s about the different degrees of receptivity to the message of God’s kingdom.

His preaching was, in real time, a fulfillment of the parable he had just taught. Only those in the crowd whose hearts were fertile soil would get it; only those with ears would hear. When the disciples asked him why he spoke to the people in parables, he answered, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them” (Matt 13:12, NIV). He then quoted the prophet Isaiah in a way that suggested that only those who weren’t hardhearted would understand anyway. After all, we might think of those who demanded that Jesus tell them plainly whether he was the Messiah or not. His response? “I did tell you, but you do not believe” (John 10:25).

I’m also reminded of Paul’s words to the Colossians. While Jesus speaks of the secrets of the kingdom that have been given to his disciples, Paul speaks of “the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations,” a mystery “now disclosed to God’s people” (Col 1:26). Simply put, those who believe know things that others don’t, because God has revealed it to them. But this isn’t an occasion for pride and arrogance, as if we figured everything out through our own cleverness. Our response should rather be grateful and humble wonder that we can granted the knowledge of any such mysteries at all.

And that day on the lake, Jesus continued to speak in parables: stories of weeds and mustard seed, of yeast and dough. Afterward, the disciples asked him to explain his teaching. He obliged them by explaining the parable of the weeds, but then told them even more parables, including the following two, which are closely related:

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. (Matt 13:44-46)

It’s possible, of course, to interrogate these parables in a way that pushes beyond what Jesus probably meant: What kind of financial strategy is that? Liquidate all your assets to buy one stinking pearl?

But it’s harder for us to relate to Jesus’ imagery than it might have been for the disciples. For example, to them, pearls were rare and precious, not something you can order online. His point, I take it, was to give his disciples two images of people stumbling across something of astonishing rarity and value, something for which they would be willing to sacrifice everything.

And remember, he told these stories specifically to his disciples. Now why do you suppose he would do that?

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EVEN IF HE doesn’t quite say it directly, Paul hints at the possibility that the Colossians were toying with ideas that were corrosive to their faith. These ideas probably sounded spiritual and may have been attractively dressed in religious or even Christian language. But Paul doesn’t want these relatively new believers to be led astray. Nor is it just them; others in the surrounding area, like the Laodiceans, were probably being affected too. Thus, Paul opens chapter 2 with these words:

I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. (Col 2:1-5)

We’ll explore this passage over the next couple of posts. For now, though, notice how Paul again mentions a divine “mystery,” which in these verses he explicitly identifies with Christ. This is the third of four times that Paul uses the word in the letter. Putting all four together, we can say more generally that the mystery is the gospel itself, the plan that was known only to God until it was revealed in Jesus.

Notice too how he frames this with references to “riches” and the “treasures” that are hidden in Christ. The Colossians have already heard and responded to the gospel, and Paul commends them for the firmness of their faith. Still, there’s much more for them to learn. Paul wants them to have what the New International Version translates as “the full riches of complete understanding” and the Common English Bible translates as “all the riches of assurance that come with understanding.”

His wording suggests a state of full and complete conviction, something he wishes for all believers, but perhaps especially for the Colossians in their situation. If some early form of Gnostic belief was already in the air, the Colossians may have been exposed to “fine-sounding” or persuasive arguments, and Paul’s strategy was to help them appreciate the richness of the gospel. The message of the kingdom is like buried treasure, a beautiful pearl worth any price. If the Colossians were looking for something that would give them wisdom and understanding, they already had it.

As do we. We should never take for granted what a privilege it is to have the revealed wisdom of God preserved for us in Scripture. In these words, we find treasure enough for a lifetime.