Matthew 13:44-50 A Treasure, A Merchant and A Dragnet

In these verses, Jesus further teaches on the Kingdom of God and what it's like. He's already confirmed the teaching that the Kingdom was like leaven that works it's way through the mix showing that a little is all that is needed. He's also taught that the kingdom is like a mustard seed, small in size but with the potential to grow to be of an ever impressive increasing size.

Jesus is simply teaching on another aspect of the Kingdom of God and he's using the comparison of a treasure, a merchant and finally a dragnet. First, the Kingdom of God is like a treasure hidden in the field which a man found and hid again, so he could sell all he has to purchase it.

Note, the concept here is not one of deceiving the owner of the field into selling you something unawares. The teaching is that the Kingdom of God is worth far more than we could imagine and is worth selling everything just to possess. As if we could stumble onto this treasure of God's Kingdom and hesitate in deciding whether to risk it all or not.

And this isn't a lesson claiming we have anything worthy of offering God in exchange for salvation. It's teaching that when we see the kingdom, to treat it as if losing it would devastate us. Because it will. It is a lost treasure, a pearl of great cost. Worth selling everything of value we own just to be a part of the kingdom.

He's not teaching that there's a value we can attain that is comparable to the worth of being within God's Kingdom. He's saying when we find it, that it's worth everything we own in exchange. And that's true whether we have an Elon Musk level of wealth or whether we are paupers. If we aren't willing to trade everything for it, then we don't appreciate the value of the treasure or pearl we found.

And then Jesus adds another comparison that emphasizes a similar lesson to the parable of the weeds. But instead of a field planted with weeds it's a harvest of a great fishing journey at the end where good fish are gathered into containers but the bad are thrown away.

And again Jesus compares it to judgment at the end of the age and says that when it's all said and done, the wicked will be removed from among the righteous. If we ignore modern mainstream eschatological teaching, it is yet another passage teaching that there isn't an escape from earth plan for Christians looking to avoid the tribulation as the wicked are removed from the righteous and judgment is over.
We will look at this more when we examine chapter 24 and realize it's less about future events than it is about explaining to first century Jews what worship without a temple or sanctuary will look like. It will look a lot like population of believers undergoing persecution and tribulation.




[44] “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 everything that he has, and buys that field. [45] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, [46] and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it. [47] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; [48] and when it was filled, they pulled it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. [49] So it will be at the end of the age: the angels will come forth and remove the wicked from among the righteous, [50] and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:44-50 A Treasure, A Merchant and A Dragnet In these verses, Jesus further teaches on the Kingdom of God and what it's like. He's already confirmed the teaching that the Kingdom was like leaven that works it's way through the mix showing that a little is all that is needed. He's also taught that the kingdom is like a mustard seed, small in size but with the potential to grow to be of an ever impressive increasing size. Jesus is simply teaching on another aspect of the Kingdom of God and he's using the comparison of a treasure, a merchant and finally a dragnet. First, the Kingdom of God is like a treasure hidden in the field which a man found and hid again, so he could sell all he has to purchase it. Note, the concept here is not one of deceiving the owner of the field into selling you something unawares. The teaching is that the Kingdom of God is worth far more than we could imagine and is worth selling everything just to possess. As if we could stumble onto this treasure of God's Kingdom and hesitate in deciding whether to risk it all or not. And this isn't a lesson claiming we have anything worthy of offering God in exchange for salvation. It's teaching that when we see the kingdom, to treat it as if losing it would devastate us. Because it will. It is a lost treasure, a pearl of great cost. Worth selling everything of value we own just to be a part of the kingdom. He's not teaching that there's a value we can attain that is comparable to the worth of being within God's Kingdom. He's saying when we find it, that it's worth everything we own in exchange. And that's true whether we have an Elon Musk level of wealth or whether we are paupers. If we aren't willing to trade everything for it, then we don't appreciate the value of the treasure or pearl we found. And then Jesus adds another comparison that emphasizes a similar lesson to the parable of the weeds. But instead of a field planted with weeds it's a harvest of a great fishing journey at the end where good fish are gathered into containers but the bad are thrown away. And again Jesus compares it to judgment at the end of the age and says that when it's all said and done, the wicked will be removed from among the righteous. If we ignore modern mainstream eschatological teaching, it is yet another passage teaching that there isn't an escape from earth plan for Christians looking to avoid the tribulation as the wicked are removed from the righteous and judgment is over. We will look at this more when we examine chapter 24 and realize it's less about future events than it is about explaining to first century Jews what worship without a temple or sanctuary will look like. It will look a lot like population of believers undergoing persecution and tribulation. [44] “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 everything that he has, and buys that field. [45] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, [46] and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it. [47] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; [48] and when it was filled, they pulled it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. [49] So it will be at the end of the age: the angels will come forth and remove the wicked from among the righteous, [50] and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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