Author: Gary Witcher

Parables Five

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field;" Jesus points out in Matthew 13:44, "which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field."
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls," the Master continues with a second parable in the following two verses, "and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it."
In the first parable, the picture is one of a man who locates a treasure in a field.  He then sells everything that he has in order to buy the field.  In the second parable, the story involves a merchant who finds a pearl of exceptional value.  He, too, sells everything and buys the pearl.
Although the two stories contain different subject matter, the message is obviously the same.
The first thing we learn about the kingdom of heaven from these parables is that it has tremendous value.  Most of us would be willing to admit this with our lips, but how many of us are willing to follow the example of these two individuals and back up our words with our actions?
Remember that the kingdom is the church.   So when we are talking about the great value of the kingdom we are referring to the great value of the church.  And just how valuable is the church?
"In order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places," Ephesians 3:10 claims.  God's will is made known through the church.
"To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever," Ephesians 3:21 notes.   God is glorified through the church.
"For the husband is the head of the wife,” Paul says in Ephesians 5:23, "as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body."
"Husbands, love your wives," Paul continues in verses 25-27, "just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless."
Jesus died for the church, and as a result we can find cleansing, sanctification and salvation only through her.
How valuable is the church?  It is more valuable than the greatest buried treasure or the most precious pearl.
The second thing that we notice about the kingdom is that these two individuals are seeking it.  It is not likely that a person would locate a hidden treasure on another person's property without looking for it, and verse 45 states that the merchant was definitely searching for the pearl of great value.
In the last half of Matthew 6 Jesus discusses the material concerns with which we all seem to be preoccupied.
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness;" Jesus advises in verses 33,34, "and all these things shall be added to you.   Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."
We all know what it is like to seek food, clothing and a few extra dollars.  How many of us know what it means to seek much more eagerly the kingdom of God?
	Another thing that we learn about the kingdom from these parables is that we should not expect to get something for nothing.  Both individuals are willing to sacrifice everything they have in exchange for one thing of great value.  In our case that one thing is the church.
In Luke 12:13-48 and 18:18-30 Jesus expounds on the effects of greed.  In passages such as Matthew 10:34-39 the Master stresses that His followers must put Him above all else.
"If any one wishes to come after Me," the Lord instructs in Matthew 16:24-26, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.  For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"
What, indeed, are we willing to give in exchange for our souls?   Is it a bigger house, a newer car, a better job, or maybe a couple of dollars in the bank?  Or could our lives involve nobler, but equally deadly, obstacles?  Do we place friends and relatives above the kingdom of God?

In Matthew 13:47,48 Jesus continues His teaching about the kingdom with another parable.
	"Again," He says, "the kingdom is like a drag-net cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away."
Once again, the earthly story is a simple one.  A group of fishermen pull a catch of fish up onto the shore, where they separate the good fish from the worthless ones.
This parable reminds us of the one we read earlier in this chapter concerning weed seeds that are sown in a wheat field.  That story mentions a time of harvest when the good grain is separated from the bad.   In the present parable, we see a harvest of fish in the place of one of grain.
Most fish have the same characteristics.  They have fins and swim in the water and they breath through gills.  They look more or less the same. But the differences begin to stand out when it is the time to separate the good from the bad.
Most religious people have the same characteristics.  They appear to love God and to want to follow His will.  But the differences begin to stand out when God checks to see whether they are really obeying Him.
Jesus makes the application in verses 49,50 and, as we can see, He is talking about people and not about fish.
"So it will be at the end of the age;" the Master informs us,  "the angels shall come forth, and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Are we sure of our relationship with God because we have examined the New Testament and are convinced that we are following Him, or because we are simply swimming around in a school with a bunch of other fish?
The next thing that Jesus does is ask whether they understand what He is saying.  Their reply is affirmative, so the Master tells another short parable to comment on their situation.
"Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household," Jesus points out, "who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old."
The story is one of a Jewish scribe who becomes a Christian.   His knowledge of the Old Testament helps him understand the New Testament, while experience with the New helps him appreciate the Old.
In 1 Corinthians chapter 10 Paul makes reference to events from the Old Testament.
"Now these things happened as examples for us," verse six explains, "that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved."
	"Now these things happened to them as an example," verse 11 repeats, "and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come."
"All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;" Paul notes in 2 Timothy 3:16,17,  "that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."
How hard do we work in searching the scriptures for examples of how we should or should not act?  Do we even care about what the Bible has to say about our behavior?
Just how hard do we work to integrate our lives with biblical teaching?  In this parable Jesus praises people who hear, understand and apply what He offers.
And what He offers is the truth that will set us free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."