Read Matt 13:44–58
Mat 13:44-50 “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. (47) “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. (48) When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. (49) So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous (50) and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
As we ponder these parables we may want to focus in on verses 49 and 50 as they are not parables but an explanation of what precedes it. Many translations start with “so it will be” but perhaps a better translation is “in this fashion” or “in this way.” Now some may only fix it to the third parable, but Jesus often gives a number of parables, each one teaching mostly the same thing but from different aspects. If we read them carefully we see a similar theme coming up.
The first tells us the man buys the whole field, not just the part with the treasure and he sells all he has. The second the man sells all he has to buy the pearl of great value. The third the net catches fish of every kind. All, all, all, every. This is describing the kingdom of heaven. The king of the kingdom sells everything he has to acquire the treasure. Jesus is that king. St. Paul tells us Jesus emptied himself to ransom all men. Jesus buys the whole world, good and bad, unbeliever and believer with his blood.
Humanity is that great pearl which Jesus again gives up everything to acquire. He empties himself, humbles himself to death, even death upon the cross to save all mankind, whether they would believe in him and be righteous or reject his salvation and remain evil. Yet he believes you are worth the price, his very life.
And so the final parable Jesus swoops mankind in the net of the good news, men of every kind. Of every race, nation, tongue and tribe, the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection brings everything to himself on the cross. At the end of the age, his angels will gather everything or everyone who rejects him to the valley of decision where they are wiped out and become food for birds. They are resurrection to everlasting perdition because they did not want him. Then they will gather the righteous, those who trusted in his good news of salvation and resurrect them to life everlasting. This life everlasting was won for you. It is a free gift from the Author of Life, the man, the merchant. If you believe it, it is yours. It is worth more than any pearl, any field, any suffering, any death because of the price paid to give it to you.
Lord Jesus Christ, you gave up everything to win all of us into your kingdom. Grant us such faith in you and your promise of salvation that we in kind will be willing to give up all things, material and immaterial that we may be found desiring only you as you do us. Amen.