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Reading through the Gospels 87
Matthew 13:44-52
THE FOLLOWING THREE PARABLES about the Kingdom of God are controversial in interpretation. When one first reads these parables, including me(!), they read as relating to man and "me." However, as I continually learn, the Bible is not about "me." It is about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is about God. These parables must be read in context with the rest of the Bible. God does the seeking, God gives the faith, and God saves. God does it all. However, I can see truths in both ways of interpreting these parables. Parables are not meant to be automatically understood, but rather they are God's gift to be pondered for a greater understanding.
There are TWO KINGDOMS. The Kingdom of Heaven/God and the Kingdom of wickedness (Ephesians 6:12, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.) The Kingdom of light and the Kingdom of darkness are always at battle, not with swords like on earth, but we fight the battle with God's Word. The Kingdom of God is not limited by heaven or earthly borders, but exists wherever His living Word and Spirit rule in people's hearts. The Kingdom of God is not established on earth and is not of this world (John 18:36). John 19:14, "Behold, Your King."
13:44 THE PARABLE OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE
This verse describes the Kingdom of Heaven as a treasure hidden in a field. A man finds the treasure, hides it again, and then sells everything he has to buy that very field. He does this "in joy."
Interpretation 1 "me": The Kingdom of Heaven is more valuable than our greatest earthly treasure. This man gave up everything he had for his greatest treasure. Although he paid for the land, he paid nothing for the treasure that was on the land. My faith is also a gift.
Interpretation 2 "God": The field is the world, the treasure is me, and the man is Jesus who found the treasure and gave His life, His all and all, to buy the field. I am God's greatest treasure! The Kingdom of Heaven is made up of God's great treasures, the children of God. If I am ever tempted to think that I need to find God, I should remember this parable that God found me.
13:45-46 THE PARABLE OF THE PEARL OF GREAT VALUE
These verses again describe the Kingdom of Heaven. A merchant looking for pearls finds one of great value and sells everything he has to buy the great one.
Interpretation 1 "me": The Kingdom of heaven is more valuable than our greatest earthly treasure. This man gave up everything he had for his greatest treasure. Putting God above riches is hard to put into practice, so this makes me thankful that I can acknowledge to God my sinful nature. My salvation is like an unrustable pearl of unimaginable price.
Interpretation 2 "God": God does the seeking for His great treasures. He is the merchant and He finds me, the precious pearl of His creation, being traded back and forth by the dealers of this world. I am God's greatest treasure which he gave His life, His all and all, to purchase! I, an undeserving soul, do nothing to become so precious. I just am precious because God created me, loves me, cares for me, and by His grace and His actions, He brings me into His kingdom. My heavenly Father calls me "my little precious pearl" and treasures me. John 15:16, "You did not choose me, but I chose you."
13:47-50 THE PARABLE OF THE NET
A third parable to teach about the Kingdom of Heaven is of fisherman who collect all the good fish and throw away the bad. In the same manner, angels will separate the wicked from the righteous, throwing the wick in the fiery furnace with weeping and gnashing of teeth. This parable is similar to the parable of the weeds. I can tell people about the Kingdom of Heaven, but I am not responsible for judging. The angels will come to separate the children of God from the others. The full net is like the just being brought together with the wicked, and thereafter sorted. We live together, the just and the wicked, in this world until such time as Jesus comes again.
13-51-52 NEW AND OLD TREASURES
Jesus asks the disciples who he told the above parables, if they understood. They replied 'yes.' Jesus tells the disciples that the scribe instructed about the Kingdom of Heaven is like a home owner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old. Scribes had knowledge of the law (teachers of the law) and could draft legal documents. Scribes were stuck in the old ways of the scrolls of scripture, but Jesus points out that a scribe in the Kingdom of Heaven brings out both the old and the new laws. This new kingdom is not a physical kingdom, but rather a spiritual kingdom. This was a new concept to be grasped by the Scribes and for people of today. We should find new ways to continually share God's law and gospel.