Matthew 13:44-52 NASB2020
Hidden treasure
⁴⁴The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells everything that he has, and buys that field.
A costly pearl
⁴⁵Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, ⁴⁶and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.
A dragnet
⁴⁷Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; ⁴⁸and when it was filled, they pulled it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away.
⁴⁹So it will be at the end of the age: the angels will come forth and remove the wicked from among the righteous, ⁵⁰and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
⁵¹Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes.” ⁵²And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure new things and old.”
Devotional
Parables are like pictures, Pictures that show something of God’s Kingdom.
Today’s first two pictures clearly belong together.
In the first parable, a man has discovered a precious treasure. From that time on, only one aspiration has inspired him: to become the owner of that treasure (Matthew 13:44).
The second parable is about a pearl. A merchant in pearls sees that he can strike the battle of his life. He quickly sells everything to get rich at once (Matthew 13:45, 46).
In both parables someone has discovered something very precious.
He will do anything to get hold of that precious thing. With the aim of being better of then before.
So it is with the Kingdom of God. If anyone has discovered the value of this Kingdom, he will do anything to possess its riches. Entering the Kingdom of God is not an uncertain leap in the dark, for it is certain in advance that you can only gain from it.
That’s how the Kingdom of God works.
That’s how it went through the ages.
People were suddenly (or gradually) seized by the Lord Jesus and it would not let them go. Everything they had before, they have given up to get hold of the great riches of God (cf. Matthew 19:20,21; Philippians 3:4-11. See also Proverbs 3:13-15; Matthew 6:33).
The parable of the dragnet (Matthew 13:47-50) is very similar to that of the good seed among which tares were sown (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43).
God’s Kingdom is at work in the world and everything comes into contact with it.
But not everything that comes into contact with the Kingdom of God is part of it.
There are good fish in the net, but there is also rubbish in between.
In this story, too, Jesus shows that the separation between good and evil is only completed on the day of judgment.
“Have you understood everything?” asks Jesus.
Yes, the disciples have understood the mystery of God’s Kingdom (Matthew 13:51).
The deep secret that this Kingdom came to earth in the Lord Jesus, that Christ is the most precious treasure imaginable (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:30).
He who has understood this is a true scribe who, in addition to the old familiar, can proclaim the new riches of the coming of Jesus (Matthew 13:52).
Question
- What are the new and the old things of Matthew 13:52?
Prayer Suggestion
- Thank God for the mighty effect of His Kingdom.
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