What The Kingdom of Heaven is Like
February 21, 2020
Commentary
In this fifth parable Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to “a treasure,” hidden in a field (v. 44). Since the Lord did not explain this parable there are various interpretations of how it can be applied. Since the Word of God makes it very clear in many places that salvation is totally the free gift of God we can be sure that it does not suggest that men purchase it. Some have suggested that this can be understood that Israel is “the treasure” and that Jesus gave up all He had in order to purchase the treasure. We do know that the kingdom of heaven is worth more than the cost of discipleship and those who know where the treasure lies will joyfully abandon everything else to secure it.
In the next parable of “the pearl” ties it closely with the previous one as it uses the word “again.” We find a merchant who sold everything he had in order to buy the highly valued pearl (v.45-46). We are dealing with a merchant whose business is to seek pearls of supreme value and pays a full price. This pearl could represent the Church, for whom Jesus Christ through His death, provided redemption for those who would believe.
The parable of “the net” illustrates how a huge dragnet (possibly pulled between two boats) was taken out into the water and gathered all kinds of fish, some good and some bad (vv. 47-48). This can be compared to the Church today, where the preaching of the Gospel has gone out and now has both true and false believers (vv 49-52). When Jesus returns to the earth He will separate the believers and unbelievers. The saved will enter into the kingdom, but the unsaved will be cast into the furnace of fire.
Application
I need to place great value for my salvation? It is good to just stop and think of the great price that was paid for my eternal life and thank Him for it.
Matthew 13:44– 52 (NET)
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field, that a person found and hid. Then because of joy he went and sold all that he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. 46 When he found a pearl of great value, he went out and sold everything he had and bought it.
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea that caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, they pulled it ashore, sat down, and put the good fish into containers and threw the bad away. 49 It will be this way at the end of the age. Angels will come and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 “Have you understood all these things?” They replied, “Yes.” 52 Then he said to them, “Therefore every expert in the law who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his treasure what is new and old.”