What the Kingdom of Heaven is Like
May 19, 2020
Commentary
Jesus’s fifth and sixth parables are linked (vv. 44-46). In the fifth parable the kingdom of heaven is compared to a treasure hidden in a field & in the sixth parable it is compared to a pearl of great value. In both parables the one who found the treasure and the pearl went and sold all that they had to gain the thing they value most. Matthew could have easily related to these parables as he left everything to follow Jesus. Peter and the other disciples did the same.
The seventh parable is a lot like the second (vv. 47-50). The kingdom is like a net thrown into the sea that gathers all kinds of fish, both good and bad. Once the net is pulled in the fishermen sort out the good fish from the bad fish. When Jesus returns to the earth, He will separate the believers and unbelievers. The saved will enter the kingdom, but the unsaved will be cast into hell.
The eighth and final parable is introduced with a question (vv. 51-52). “Are you guys getting this?” Jesus asked. “Yes” the disciples said. Jesus then told them that every scribe trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner possessing treasures both old and new. We have two “Testaments” in our Bibles, the old and the new. We need to master both, using their wisdom for the kingdom.
When Jesus finished His parables, He went to His hometown of Nazareth (vv. 53-58). Upon arriving He taught the people in the synagogue. The people were impressed by His powers and teachings, but they rejected They remembered Him as the carpenter’s son and surely anyone so “ordinary” could not be the promised Messiah. This was the second time Nazareth rejected Jesus (Luke 4:16-30). Because of their unbelief He did only a few miracles.
Application
My actions demonstrate how much I value Jesus. When was the last time I shared the gospel? Have I mastered the Old and New Testaments?
Matthew 13:44– 58 (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.”
53 Now when Jesus finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Then he came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers? 55 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother named Mary? And aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 And aren’t all his sisters here with us? So where did he get all this?” 57 And so they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own house.” 58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.