the parable of hidden treasure

• Video 1 (3 min)

• Video 2 (1 min)

• Video 3 (1 min)

  1. Why did Jesus teach using parables?

  2. Write out the “memory verse” for this parable. (Hint: It’s in the transcript for Video 1; the words are in italics and bold.)

  3. How do we know the man does not own the field in which the treasure is buried?

  4. Why do you think the man buried the treasure again instead of just taking it?

  5. In these videos, the treasure is really what? The videos mention two things the treasure represents.

  6. Find the blocks of wood photograph with “Look here for Question 6” noted above and below. How might these blocks of wood show “the hidden Jesus”?

  7. In Video 2 we learn where the man sold everything he owned. Where was that?

  8. In Video 3 we learn what kind of field the man was working in. What kind of field was it?

  9. Write at least two things that are different in these three versions of the Parable of the Hidden Treasure.

  10. Write what is the same in all three versions of the parable.

• Read •

the parable of hidden treasure

Video 1

Hey kids, what’s the most valuable thing in the world to you?

Maybe it’s your favorite toy, a stuffed animal, or your blankie. Well, in today’s lesson Jesus tells us what He thinks should be the most valuable thing.

He did it through a story called a parable.

Jesus often told parables to teach important lessons. In this parable, He described the Kingdom of Heaven.

The first part of this parable is our memory verse:


“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure

that a man discovered hidden in a field.”

A man finds a hidden treasure in a field, hides it again, and then sells everything he owns so he can buy the field. And that’s it—that’s the end of the parable.

So, what was Jesus trying to teach us?

Jesus Himself is the treasure in the field. He wasn’t talking about money or jewels.

He was talking about something much more important—Himself. Without Jesus, we could never make it to Heaven. Following Him is the only way to get there.

But that’s not all. There’s another lesson in this parable.

For many people, Jesus seems hidden, just like the treasure was hidden. It can be hard for some people to find Him—especially if they never go to church or don’t have friends who tell them about Him.

⬇︎ Look here for Question 6 ⬇︎

⬆︎ Look here for Question 6 ⬆︎

But Jesus isn’t hiding from them. He wants everyone to find Him and have a relationship with Him. A relationship with Jesus is the most valuable thing in the whole world.

That’s the main point of this short parable: having a relationship with Jesus is the most valuable thing we can have. The man in the story sold everything to get the treasure. In the same way, we should be willing to give up anything to follow Jesus.

So, next time you think about your most valuable possession, don’t just think about your favorite toy or stuffed animal. Think about your relationship with Jesus—the most important treasure of all.

Video 2

One day, Jesus told a story about a man who was walking through a field when he found a treasure hidden in the ground. The treasure was a chest full of gold and jewels, and the man knew it was worth a lot of money.

He came up with a plan for how he could own the treasure. Excited, the man ran to the nearest town to sell everything he owned. He wanted enough money to buy the field where the treasure was hidden.

The man knew that owning the field—and the treasure—was worth more than anything else he had. He took all his money and rushed to buy the field. When he returned, he dug up the treasure and took it home. He was so happy and grateful to have found it.

The man spent the rest of his life enjoying the treasure.

Jesus said this treasure is like the Kingdom of Heaven. It is the most valuable thing in the world. We should be willing to give up anything to follow Jesus and be part of God’s family.

There is no greater treasure than belonging to God’s Kingdom and having a personal relationship with Him.

Video 3



In a field full of ripened wheat, a humble man went about his daily work. As he labored, his hands suddenly struck something hard beneath the earth.

Excitement rising, he dug and uncovered a treasure hidden in the soil.

His heart pounded. Looking around, he quickly buried the treasure again, knowing it must remain secret for now. Without hesitation, the man gathered all his wealth and purchased the field.

To others, it may have looked like nothing more than a simple plot of land. But to him, it held a secret worth more than everything he owned.

“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.

“When a man finds it, he sells all that he has with joy, for the eternal reward is greater than any earthly possession.”

  • Chest (n.) a large, strong box, often made of wood, used for storing valuables.

  • Eternal (adj.) lasting forever; having no end.

  • Kingdom (n.) a land or area ruled by a king or queen; in the Bible, it can also mean God’s rule over people.

  • Labor (n.) hard physical work or effort.

  • Memory verse (n.) a sentence or passage from the Bible that people try to remember word-for-word.

  • Parable (n.) a simple story that teaches a moral or spiritual lesson.

  • Plot (n.) a piece of land; in stories, it can also mean the main events.

  • Possession (n.) something that belongs to a person.

  • Ripened (adj.) fully grown and ready to be eaten or harvested.

  • Soil (n.) the top layer of the earth where plants grow; dirt.

► COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

— please answer with complete sentences

  1. Why did Jesus teach using parables?

  2. Write out the “memory verse” for this parable. (Hint: It’s in the transcript for Video 1; the words are in italics and bold.)

  3. How do we know the man does not own the field in which the treasure is buried?

  4. Why do you think the man buried the treasure again instead of just taking it?

  5. In these videos, the treasure is really what? The videos mention two things the treasure represents.

  6. Find the blocks of wood photograph with “Look here for Question 6” noted above and below. How might these blocks of wood show “the hidden Jesus”?

  7. In Video 2 we learn where the man sold everything he owned. Where was that?

  8. In Video 3 we learn what kind of field the man was working in. What kind of field was it?

  9. Write at least two things that are different in these three versions of the Parable of the Hidden Treasure.

  10. Write what is the same in all three versions of the parable.

► From EITHER/OR ► BOTH/AND

► FROM Right/Wrong ► Creative Combination

  1. THESIS — Argue the case that your family is the most important thing in the world.

  2. ANT-THESIS — Argue the case that a the Kingdom of God and a relationship with Jesus are the most important things in the world.

  3. SYN-THESIS — How might both perspectives be true?