What The Kingdom of Heaven is Like

Matthew 13:44–52
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A story was told of a man who loved old books. He met an acquaintance who had just thrown away a Bible that had been stored in the attic of his ancestral home for generations. “I couldn’t read it,” the friend explained. “Somebody named Guten-something had printed i … More

Values

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 (English Standard Version)

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