Matt. 13:44-52, Treasure, Pearl, Dragnet, Householder

Jesus concludes with three parables about the end of the age and then a parable about the parables, so to speak.  Again, the stories are not hard to understand. 

·        In the first a man finds a treasure in a field and sells all he has so as to buy the entire field so as to gain its treasure. 

·        In the second, a man finds a pearl of great price, and again, sells all he has to buy it.  An interesting thought as to the cultural context here is that pearls were not of great importance or value among Jews but they were among the Gentiles.

·        In the third, a man with a dragnet (a weighted net that was drug along the bottom of the lake when fishing) catches a lot of fish.  Once he gets the catch to shore he sorts the fish, keeping the good and throwing out the bad.

We said earlier that Jesus did not interpret the later parables.  This was incorrect as He gives a specific interpretation of the “dragnet” parable.  What do these parables say about the time between the advents?

The treasure and the pearl of great price seem similar, other than the item that is of great value.  The explanation might be as simple as Jesus speaking of the Israel (God’s treasure, Deut. 7:6; 14:2) and the Church (the pearl of great price). 

Israel is a treasure above all the nations, even as the treasure is found in the field that represents the world.  Given the scattering of Israel in the diaspora this fits well.  Jesus is saying Israel will be regathered; and even more she will be saved because He will pay the price.  Think of the joy of Boaz in paying the price of the redeemer for Ruth and you will see the joy of Israel’s Messiah.

As for the Church, it is born out of great affliction, both that of Christ and that of the Christians who have paid with their lives against numerous enemies throughout her history.  In the same way a pearl is formed through suffering of the oyster.  Again, Jesus for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross and the shame to purchase His people (Heb. 12:1-2; cf. also 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18-19). 

Jesus explains the dragnet parable.  It deals with the judgment at the end of the age, one that is profound as the end of the wicked is a furnace of fire where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth.  Jesus had promised this separation in the parable of the wheat and tares.  The net itself is the gospel by which men can be saved from wrath to come.

We believe the concluding parable is encouragement for Jesus’ disciples, especially the Twelve.  Scribe usually refers to the Pharisaic scribes and has a negative connotation.  But here Jesus refers to a scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven.  Thus we see the need is to have good instruction in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The treasures new and old are significant.  We can easily see in Israel and the Church things that are new and old in the age between the advents.  These parables have had encouragement for Israel who will be set aside for a while.  The Lord will pay the great price to retrieve His treasure.  What is new is the Church, and it’s special emphasis on people from every tribe, nation, language and people.  Again, the price will be paid, as great as it is, because what is being purchased in of great value to God.

Have you been able to see the love of God, the power of God and the holiness of God in these parables?  How great is our God!