NOTES for Mat 13:44-58
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. |
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: |
46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. |
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: |
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. |
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, |
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. |
51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. |
52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. |
53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. |
54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? |
55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? |
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? |
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. |
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. |
Hide
In the parable of the treasure hidden in a field, what is most striking is that the Kingdom of Heaven is acquired not at the cost of some incredible efforts, not through self-sacrifice and heroic struggle, but in great joy over unexpected wealth. Selling everything this man had seems to him like a very profitable deal, since his wealth was apparently not great if it could buy him only a patch of land.
Here, as in several other parables, the point turns on the incomparability of the Kingdom and what we possess without God. Certainly, for the sake of the Kingdom one has to give something up; but if one remembers, and not only remembers but also comes to know by faith and experience, that the price of the field and the value of the treasure are simply incomparable, then such a "sacrifice" will not be a sacrifice, but the most "profitable contract" of our life.
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Readings for 8 September 2025
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