Three More Parables Explained

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Matthew 13:44-52

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

 
 

Matthew has gathered many of the parables of Jesus together in chapter 13. Let’s continue to take each one in turn:

  1. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure is about how the Kingdom is the kind of thing that is absolutely worth going all-in for.

  2. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price is about how the Kingdom is worth whatever it costs.

  3. The Parable of the Dragnet is about how the Kingdom is meant for everyone and everyone is invited—but the church contains true disciples and false disciples—and at the Last Judgment there will be a sorting of the faithful from the unfaithful.

P.S. The “treasure old and new” refers to the fulfillment of Israel’s story in Jesus—Jesus is not doing something entirely new since he is the embodiment of Israel, but he is taking the old thing and showing God’s purposes for humanity in a new way.