7/23/19 

Matthew 13:44-46

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 

⁴⁶ who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

The parables in Matthew 13 are all Kingdom parables.  In vs 11 Jesus tells His disciples that parables are means to teach them “the secrets of the Kingdom”, while to those who are not His disciples this has not been given, but is a part of keeping the Kingdom for believers.

In the two parables in vss 44-46 Christ introduces them with the words “the Kingdom of Heaven is like”.  We begin with the understanding that Jesus is using an analogy.  And as both parables have a similar plot to understand them it is best to find likenesses and the differences.

A.       The likenesses: 

1.       Both are about a valuable item.

2.       The valuable item is found.

3.       The finder’s intent to have that which he found.

4.       He sold everything he had.

5.       He used the gain from his sale to purchase the valuable item.

B.      The differences: 

1.       In one he finds, in the other he goes looking. 

2.       In one he finds and hides, in the other he bought it. 

3.       In one he buys the field to get the treasure, in the second he buys the pearl.

The common factors are: 

1.       There is a searcher/purchaser. 

2.       He sells all he has to make the purchase, it comes at the price of all that he has.

There are a few things about parables that we should consider.

A.       Parables ordinarily have a singular meaning.

B.       The incidentals of a parable may be or may not be important.

C.      Every event or character need not be explained or applied.

What is important in this parable.

1.        The price that was paid.  “All he had.”

2.       The desired items were purchased because of the value to the buyer.

3.       To the purchaser the items were of great value giving the reason for the sacrifice.

I do not see this as a Christian’s giving everything he or she has for salvation. cf Titus 3:5.

⁵ he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

 There is one sacrifice and one purchase that this description fits. 

Romans 5:8 ⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ;

II Corinthians 5:21   ²¹ For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 8:34 ³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.