44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven
is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over
it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a
merchant seeking beautiful 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 a
dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore;
and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 So
it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the
wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be
wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Having explained the parable of the wheat and tares the Lord Jesus Christ now tells the disciples three more short parables in quick secession. In the first parable the Lord Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a treasure hidden in a field which a man found and hid, and for joy over that field goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. At first glance it may seem like this is our disposition when we come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ willingly forsaking all to have Him! However, our entrance in Christ’s Kingdom is not based on our “sacrifices” for Him, but His sacrifice for us, and our trusting Him and believing in Him having done so (John 3:16). Therefore, rather than drawing a direct analogy from this parable and to whom it is referring, I think it best to see this parable (and the next one) for what they are emphasizing, and that is the immense and immeasurable value of the Kingdom of heaven and its impact on us when we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and truly find it.
Vs.45-46 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Again, the Kingdom of heaven and its impact on us all who discover it is being made clear. In first parable the man quite by chance happens to find it, and for joy over having found this great hidden treasure goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. In the second parable the kingdom of heaven is likened to a merchant seeking beautiful pearls who when he found one pearl of great price went and sold all that he had and bought it (vs.46). Now in the second the man is seeking beautiful pearls, and when he happens upon one pearl of great value, he realizes that he has found a great and immeasurable treasure and so he too likewise goes and sells all that he has buys that pearl. And so again there is no hesitation on the part of either man both have found a very great and everlasting treasure and both covet it more than anything else! And once again the immense and immeasurable value of the Kingdom of heaven and its impact on us who truly discover it is being emphasized. For us who believe then it truly is the greatest discovery and treasure that we could ever find and have. Not that we buy it, or that we attain entrance into it by personal sacrifices, or that we earn it somehow, but that once we have discovered it we realize it is all we were ever searching for, and so nothing becomes more important than having it!
Now in this parable the Lord Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a dragnet cast into the sea which gathered some of every kind, both good and bad, and so having brought the net to shore they put the good into vessels and throw the bad away. Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ says so it will be at the end of the age, “The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Therefore, any notions that being saved by God’s grace means that one can still carry living wickedly and or being unjust while being apart of the external kingdom of heaven are now laid to rest. For as the Lord Jesus Christ makes it clear in this parable at the end of the age the angels will come forth and separate the wicked from the just! Therefore, any notions that there is not an eternal judgment and that there will not be eternal suffering for living wickedly or being unjust must now be laid to rest. For that is what the Lord Jesus Christ is warning us all about here by His parable, that though the Kingdom of heaven here on earth will be corrupted by such individuals yet at the end of the age there will be a reckoning when He sets everything right! Therefore, let everyone of us examine ourselves and set our person and lives right with God by departing from each one’s own wickedness and unjust ways (in this consider Acts 24:14-15).
Commentary
Vs.
44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like
treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he
goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”Having explained the parable of the wheat and tares the Lord Jesus Christ now tells the disciples three more short parables in quick secession. In the first parable the Lord Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a treasure hidden in a field which a man found and hid, and for joy over that field goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. At first glance it may seem like this is our disposition when we come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ willingly forsaking all to have Him! However, our entrance in Christ’s Kingdom is not based on our “sacrifices” for Him, but His sacrifice for us, and our trusting Him and believing in Him having done so (John 3:16). Therefore, rather than drawing a direct analogy from this parable and to whom it is referring, I think it best to see this parable (and the next one) for what they are emphasizing, and that is the immense and immeasurable value of the Kingdom of heaven and its impact on us when we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and truly find it.
Vs.45-46 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Again, the Kingdom of heaven and its impact on us all who discover it is being made clear. In first parable the man quite by chance happens to find it, and for joy over having found this great hidden treasure goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. In the second parable the kingdom of heaven is likened to a merchant seeking beautiful pearls who when he found one pearl of great price went and sold all that he had and bought it (vs.46). Now in the second the man is seeking beautiful pearls, and when he happens upon one pearl of great value, he realizes that he has found a great and immeasurable treasure and so he too likewise goes and sells all that he has buys that pearl. And so again there is no hesitation on the part of either man both have found a very great and everlasting treasure and both covet it more than anything else! And once again the immense and immeasurable value of the Kingdom of heaven and its impact on us who truly discover it is being emphasized. For us who believe then it truly is the greatest discovery and treasure that we could ever find and have. Not that we buy it, or that we attain entrance into it by personal sacrifices, or that we earn it somehow, but that once we have discovered it we realize it is all we were ever searching for, and so nothing becomes more important than having it!
Vs.
47-50
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a
dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore;
and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 So
it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the
wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be
wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Now in this parable the Lord Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a dragnet cast into the sea which gathered some of every kind, both good and bad, and so having brought the net to shore they put the good into vessels and throw the bad away. Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ says so it will be at the end of the age, “The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Therefore, any notions that being saved by God’s grace means that one can still carry living wickedly and or being unjust while being apart of the external kingdom of heaven are now laid to rest. For as the Lord Jesus Christ makes it clear in this parable at the end of the age the angels will come forth and separate the wicked from the just! Therefore, any notions that there is not an eternal judgment and that there will not be eternal suffering for living wickedly or being unjust must now be laid to rest. For that is what the Lord Jesus Christ is warning us all about here by His parable, that though the Kingdom of heaven here on earth will be corrupted by such individuals yet at the end of the age there will be a reckoning when He sets everything right! Therefore, let everyone of us examine ourselves and set our person and lives right with God by departing from each one’s own wickedness and unjust ways (in this consider Acts 24:14-15).
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
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