February 13, 2025 | Be God's Family
Parables of the Treasures, Pearls & Nets
Scripture: Matthew 13:44-52(NIV)
36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
Devotional
In this selection today, Jesus teaches about the “kingdom of God” and says the “knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables” (Luke 8:10, Mark 4:11-12). He tells us He has “prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19). The kingdom of God starts with Jesus and His salvation. It is about “eternal life, and that eternal life begins now…” (Peter DeHaan).
Jesus reveals three parables about the kingdom of God. In each parable something valuable is discovered. Then the discoverer sells everything he has in order to purchase the item of great value.
In the first parable of the hidden treasure, Jesus describes a man who finds a treasure hidden in a field. Excited and joyful about his find, he sells all he has, buys the field, and buries the treasure to keep others from stealing it. The treasure is “hidden;” it is not obvious to everyone. Jesus shows that the kingdom of God is for those who are willing to accept it and deem it so valuable that they willingly sacrifice all they have for it. God reminds us that it is worth the sacrifice.
Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a merchant who was looking for good pearls in the second parable. After finding one “pearl of great price,” he sells all he has and buys it. Jesus says the kingdom of God is “worth more than gold” and “sweeter than honey” (Psalm 19:9-10). He tells us in Proverbs 2 to “search for it as you would silver. Hunt for it like hidden treasure” (v 4). Nothing is more valuable than the kingdom of God.
When Jesus tells the third parable, He describes a net that fishermen use to catch fish. After casting their net into the sea and catching many types of fish, they head back to shore and begin dividing the “good fish from the bad” (vs 47-48). Jesus compares this division of the fish to “the end of the world” where angels will “sever the wicked from the just.” The wicked will be “cast into the furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (v 49).
All of these parables show that inclusion into the kingdom of God is worth any amount of sacrifice. Jesus tells us to seek His kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). “We should listen and obey” (DeHaan).
As a follower of Christ, am I seeking God’s Kingdom first? How? If not, why?
Poem
Great
Psalm 119:161-168
Your promises
Great spoil!
Your word
Great pearl!
Your ways
Great treasure!
Your laws
Great bounty!
Your peace
Great rejoicing!
Your salvation
Great love!
