Purchase (Bought)

Matthew 13:44  •  11 min. read  •  grade level: 7
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Let’s turn first of all to Matthew 13:4444Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. (Matthew 13:44): “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” This parable speaks of the universal results of the great purchase that Christ made on the cross. The “man” is the Lord Jesus Christ, and we are told in verse 38 that “the field is the world.” The “treasure” in the field refers to believers upon whom the Lord places a great value, and for which He was willing to pay a great price to have. The buying of the “field” with the “treasure” in it refers to Christ’s purchase of the world, and every thing and person in it. This is the twofold circle of Christ’s belongings—all persons and all things.
Purchase (bought) is the broadest aspect of Christ’s work on the cross. Hebrews 2:99But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9) confirms this, stating, “So that by the grace of God He should taste death for every thing” (J. N. Darby Translation). Note: it shouldn’t be translated, “For every man” (as in the KJV), which makes this aspect of Christ’s work narrower than it really is. It should be rendered: “For every thing” which covers all persons and things.
Firstly, Christ's purchase involves all persons. Hence, He now has title and right over all flesh. John 17:22As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. (John 17:2) refers to the effect of this great purchase. It says, “Thou hast given Him power over all flesh.” (Some might object to the use of this verse because it was uttered by the Lord before He went to the cross. However, John’s gospel, which emphasizes Christ as God the Son, views Him as dwelling in the eternal present, outside of time. Thus, He speaks as though the work He was about to do on the cross was already done—i.e. verse 4.) “All flesh” is extensive—covering all men, saved and lost. This means that every person, whether they own the purchase or not, has been “bought” by the Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore, belongs to Him.
Secondly, His purchase was for all things. Ephesians 1:1414Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14) says, “ ... the purchased possession.” The context of this verse indicates that the “purchased possession” is the inheritance, which is every created thing. Christ has purchased the title and right to that as well. Hence, the effect of Christ’s purchase gives Him title to all things, as well as to all flesh. Thus, His purchase is universal.
A type from the book of Ruth illustrates this two-fold circle of Christ’s belongings. Naomi sold a parcel of land that belonged to her husband Elimelech who had passed away (Ruth 4:33And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: (Ruth 4:3)). Since Boaz (who is a type of Christ), desired to have Ruth as his wife, he had to buy that portion of the inheritance which would give him all in it, including Ruth. “Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife” (Ruth 4:9-109And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. 10Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. (Ruth 4:9‑10)). He bought the parcel of land, which included a person—Ruth. The land he bought is typical of the things involved in Christ’s purchase, and Ruth illustrates the purchase of persons.
Now let’s turn to Revelation 5:99And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9): “And they sing a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast bought to God by Thy blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (W. Kelly’s translation). We learn from this verse that the purchase was made by the “blood” of Christ. Not to digress from our subject here, but in this chapter the elders (the heavenly saints) are observing God’s ways in grace with men on earth from above, and they are praising Him for it. They are not singing about themselves, but of those on earth. This is why the word “us” in the KJV should not be in the text, as J. N. Darby’s translation indicates. Verse 10 should say, “ ... and made them (not “us”) to our God king’s and priests.” It also says, “And they (not “we”) shall reign over the earth.” It is referring to the martyred Tribulation saints who will one day reign with Christ “over” the earth in heaven. It is not referring to the Church in heaven reigning over the earth, as commonly thought. It is true the Church will reign over the earth with Christ (2 Tim. 2:1212If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (2 Timothy 2:12); Rev. 21:99And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. (Revelation 21:9)–22:5), but that is not the subject of this verse. At any rate, the point I want to make here is that the purchase is by the “blood” of Christ. It refers to the price He paid.
Now let’s turn to 2 Peter 2:11But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1): “But there were false prophets also among the people, as there shall be also among you false teachers, who shall bring in by the bye destructive heresies, and deny the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction” (J. N. Darby Translation). Peter warned the saints of the rise of false teachers in the Christian profession. He said that just as there were false prophets in Old Testament times, there would be false teachers in the professing Church. They would bring in “damnable heresies” and attract large followings, and “many” would “follow their pernicious ways” (2 Peter 2:22And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (2 Peter 2:2)). A heresy is a visible, outward split among the people of God. It is to make a party among the saints that splits off from the rest. Most people think that heresy is bad doctrine, and thus, the term is often used in that way conventionally, but really it is divisive party-making. A “damnable” heresy is even worse; it is a party that rallies around soul-damning doctrines.
The point I want you to see here is that these people were “bought,” yet they ended up in a lost eternity! This shows that being “bought” does not mean that they were saved. These false teachers (mere professing believers) denied “the Lord” or the “Master” that “bought” them, and thus, brought upon themselves “destruction.” They masqueraded as Christian teachers, but they didn’t have any real Godward faith. As a result of their denial of Christ’s purchase, they have passed on into everlasting judgment. We see this same class of persons in Jude 44For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 4): “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God (“Master” – J. N. Darby Trans.), and our Lord Jesus Christ.” If “bought” means to be saved, as some think, then these teachers in 2 Peter 2:11But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1) lost their salvation! We know that that could not be so because it would deny a cardinal truth concerning Christ’s work—the believer’s eternal security. The truth is that they were bought but they never were saved. This is an example of why we need to understand the distinction between bought and redeemed, for without it we could get into bad doctrine.
We learn from these verses that as a result of Christ’s purchase, there has been a change of masters. All persons now belong to the Lord on the grounds of His purchase. He is their “Master.” Hence, purchase (bought) involves a change of ownership—a change of masters. But Christ being their Master, by virtue of His purchase, does not mean that they have received Him as their Saviour!
There is a danger of slipping into using the term “bought” synonymously with being “saved.” We’ve often heard a well-meaning Christian ask a stranger, “Do you belong to the Lord Jesus?” The Scriptural answer (whether they are saved or not) is “Yes!” Saved or lost, all persons belong to the Lord Jesus. Of course, we know what is meant; they are asking if the person has, in faith, owned the purchase that Christ has made on the cross. We’ve also heard people say, “I met a man the other day who was the Lord’s. ... ” What do they mean? According to this truth every man that you meet is the Lord’s! They are all His by the right of the purchase that He made on the cross.
I remember a brother who spoke up in a meeting and made the comment: “We’ve all been “purchased” by the blood, haven’t we?” He said that because he thought that everyone present was saved. But he didn’t know that someone had brought an unsaved person along to the meeting that day. If he had known that, he probably wouldn’t have said it. I leaned over to my wife and said, “Little does that man know how right his statement is.” Even that unbeliever in the room was “purchased” by the Lord Jesus! I mention these things, not to find fault with well-meaning Christians, but to show how we can so easily slip into the misuse of Scriptural terms.
Now let’s turn to Ephesians 1, and verses 13-14: “In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Which [Who] is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” The Apostle Paul is speaking here about a two-fold work of the Spirit—the seal and the earnest. Both things are ours when the Spirit comes to dwell in us, which happens when we believe the gospel of our salvation. The seal gives us to know that we are His property; the earnest gives us to know that we have property (the inheritance) and to help us to enjoy our portion in Christ.
He goes on to say, “Until the redemption of the purchased possession.” From this phrase, we see that purchase and redemption are not the same thing—even though he is referring to things rather than persons. Note: he is referring something that has been purchased, but that has not yet been redeemed! This clearly shows that the two things are not synonymous. Now you might ask, “What is this ‘purchased possession?’” It is not, as many think, the Church, though the Church surely has been purchased. This is clearly seen in what Paul said to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:2828Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28), “Shepherd the assembly of God, which He has purchased with the blood of His own [Son].” — J. N. Darby Trans.) The “possession” mentioned in Ephesians 1:1414Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14) is something that has been purchased but is waiting to be redeemed. This couldn’t be referring to Christians because the Church has already been redeemed! (Rom. 3:2424Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:24); Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7); Col. 1:1414In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14); 1 Peter 1:18-1918Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:18‑19))
A careful look at the context of Ephesians 1:1414Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14) shows that the thing purchased is the inheritance—which is every created thing. While all things have been purchased, all things have not been redeemed. The point in the verse is that there will be a time when the inheritance will be set free from sin, Satan, and the world so that it can be used for the Lord’s glory. This happens at the Lord’s second coming—the Appearing of Christ. In Scripture, “the bride, the Lamb’s wife” (Rev. 21:99And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. (Revelation 21:9)), which is the Church, is not viewed on the same ground as the inheritance. Similarly, we don’t speak of our wives as part and parcel with our possessions. For instance, a man doesn’t say, “I have a house, a car, a boat, a dog, and a wife!” Our wives don’t want to be considered chattel. Similarly, the Church, the Lamb’s wife, is not the inheritance; she is a joint-heir with Christ over the inheritance (Rom. 8:1717And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)).
The Right to All Persons & Things by Creation and by Purchase
Christ has title and right to His belongings (every thing and every person) on two accounts:
Christ, therefore, has a two-fold right to all—by creation and by purchase. Revelation 4 speaks of His creatorial rights to the inheritance; Revelation 5 has to do with His rights to the inheritance by purchase. There was once a boy who worked hard at building a model sail boat. When he finished it, he took it to a lake where he enjoyed sailing it. One day the boat got away from him in the wind and he lost it. A little while later, he found the boat in a pawnshop! So, he went in and told the proprietor that the boat was his—that he was the one who actually built it. The man told him that it was his now, and if the boy wanted it, he would have to buy it. So, the boy went home and got together the money and came back and bought it. When he took it out of the store, he said, “Little boat, you belong to me twice—I made you, and I’ve bought you.” Similarly, with the Lord Jesus, all things and persons belong to Him by creation and by purchase.