Sermon Tone Analysis

Parable of the Hidden Treasures

 

5.     the parable of the hidden treasure (13:44).

*13:44.*

In a fifth parable Jesus compared *the kingdom of heaven *to *treasure hidden in a field.

A man *having discovered the treasure, then *bought that field *in order to have the treasure for himself.

Since the Lord did not interpret this parable, a variety of interpretive views are held.

In the flow of this chapter, it seems best to understand this to be a reference to Israel, God’s “treasured possession” (Ex.

19:5; Ps. 135:4).

One reason Jesus came into the world was to redeem Israel, so that He could be viewed as the One who sold all He had (viz., the glories of heaven; cf.

John 17:5; 2 Cor.

8:9; Phil.

2:5-8) in order to purchase the treasure.

6.     the parable of the pearl (13:45-46).

*13:45-46.*

This parable, also not interpreted by the Lord, may be linked with the previous one.

The pearl *of great value *may represent the church, the bride of Jesus Christ.

*Pearls *are uniquely formed.

“Its formation occurs because of an irritation in the tender side of an oyster.

There is a sense in which the church was formed out of the wounds of Christ and has been made possible by His death and sacrifice” (John F. Walvoord, /Matthew: Thy Kingdom Come, /p.

105).

The *merchant *who *sold everything he had *in order to buy the highly valued pearl represents Jesus Christ who through His death provided redemption for those who would believe.

These two parables in close proximity—the treasure and the pearl—teach that within the period of time when the King is absent, Israel would continue to exist and the church would be growing.

7.     the parable of the net (13:47-52).

*13:47-50.*

Jesus’ seventh parable compares *the kingdom of heaven *to *a net that was let down into the lake *so that a great catch *of fish *was hauled in.

*The fishermen pulled *the full net to *shore *and sorted out the *fish, *collecting *the good *ones *in baskets *and throwing *the bad *ones *away.

*Jesus said this sorting represents the angelic separation of *the wicked from the righteous *at *the end of the Age *(v.

49; cf.

vv.

37-43).

This separation will occur when Jesus Christ returns to establish His kingdom on earth (cf.

25:30).

*13:51-52.*

*Jesus asked *the disciples if they had *understood all *He told them.

Their *yes *answer is surprising, for they could not have known the full implications of these parables.

In fact the disciples’ subsequent questions and actions proved that they did not really comprehend the parables.

Jesus, however, was performing the function of an *owner of a house *who could bring *new *and *old *treasures *out of his storeroom.*

[1]

 

Matthew Henry

 

We have four short parables in these verses.

I.

That of the /treasure hid in the field./

Hitherto he had compared /the kingdom of heaven/ to small things, because its beginning was small; but, lest any should thence take occasion to think meanly of it, in this parable and the next he represents it as of great value in itself, and of great advantage to those who embrace it, and are willing to come up to its terms; it is here likened /to a treasure hid in the field,/ which, if we will, we may make our own.

1. Jesus Christ is the true Treasure; in him there is an abundance of all that which is rich and useful, and will be a portion for us: /all fulness/ (Col.

1:19; Jn. 1:16): /treasures of wisdom and knowledge/ (Col.

2:3), of righteousness, grace, and peace; these are laid up for us in Christ; and, if we have an interest in him, it is all our own.

2. The gospel is the field in which this treasure is hid: it is hid in the word of the gospel, both the Old-Testament and the New-Testament gospel.

In gospel ordinances it is hid as the milk in the breast, the marrow in the bone, the manna in the dew, the water in the well (Isa.

12:3), /the honey in the honey-comb./

It is hid, not /in a garden enclosed,/ or /a spring shut up,/ but /in a field,/ an open field; /whoever will, let him come, and search the scriptures;/ let him dig in /this field/ (Prov.

2:4); and whatever royal mines we find, they are all our own, if we take the right course.

3. It is a great thing to discover the treasure hid in this field, and the unspeakable value of it.

The reason why so many slight the gospel, and will not be at the expense, and run the hazard, of entertaining it, is because they look only upon the surface of the field, and judge by that, and so see no excellency in the Christian institutes above those of the philosophers; nay, the richest mines are often in grounds that appear most barren; and therefore they will not so much as bid for the field, much less come up to the price.

/What is thy beloved more than another beloved?/

What is the Bible more than other good books?

The gospel of Christ more than Plato’s philosophy, or Confucius’s morals: but those who have /searched the scriptures,/ so as in them to find Christ and /eternal life/ (Jn.

5:39), have discovered such a treasure in this field as makes it infinitely more valuable.

4. Those who discern this treasure in the field, and value it aright, will never be easy till they have made it their own upon any terms.

He that has found this treasure, hides it, which denotes a holy jealousy, /lest we come short/ (Heb.

4:1), /looking diligently/ (Heb.

12:15), lest Satan come between us and it.

He rejoices in it, though as yet the bargain be not made; he is glad there is such a bargain to be had, and that he is in a fair way to have an interest in Christ; that the matter is in treaty: their /hearts/ may /rejoice,/ who are yet /but seeking the Lord,/ Ps. 105:3.

He resolves to /buy this field:/ they who embrace gospel offers, upon gospel terms, buy this field; they make it their own, for the sake of the unseen treasure in it.

It is Christ in the gospel that we are to have an eye to; we need not go up to heaven, but Christ in the word is nigh us.

And so intent he is upon it, /that he sells all to buy this field:/ they who would have saving benefit by Christ, must be willing to part with all, that they may make it sure to themselves; must /count every thing but loss, that they may win Christ, and be found in him./

II.

That of /the pearl of price/ (v.

45, 46), which is to the same purport with the former, of the treasure.

/The dream is thus doubled, for the thing is certain./

Note, 1.

All the children of men are busy, /seeking goodly pearls:/ one would be rich, another would be honourable, another would be learned; but the most are imposed upon, and take up with counterfeits for pearls.

2. Jesus Christ is a /Pearl of great price,/ a Jewel of inestimable value, which will make those who have it rich, truly rich, rich toward God; in having him, we have enough to make us happy here and for ever.

3. A true Christian is a spiritual /merchant,/ that seeks and finds this pearl of price; that does not take up with any thing short of an interest in Christ, and, as one that is resolved to be spiritually rich, trades high: /He went and bought that pearl;/ did not only bid for it, but purchased it.

What will it avail us to know Christ, if we do not know him as ours, /made to us wisdom?/ 1 Co. 1:30.

4. Those who would have a saving interest in Christ, must be willing to part with all for him, leave all to follow him.

Whatever stands in opposition to Christ, or in competition with him for our love and service, we must cheerfully quit it, though ever so dear to us.

A man may buy gold too dear, but not this pearl of price.

III.

That of the /net cast into the sea,/ v. 47–49.

1.

Here is the parable itself.

Where note, (1.)

The world is a vast sea, and the children of men /are things creeping innumerable, both small and great,/ in that sea, Ps. 104:25.

Men in their natural state are /like the fishes of the sea/ that have no ruler over them, Hab.

1:14.

(2.)

The preaching of the gospel is the casting of a net into this sea, to catch something out of it, for his glory who has the sovereignty of the sea.

Ministers are /fishers of men,/ employed in casting and drawing this net; and /then/ they speed, when at Christ’s word they let down the net; otherwise, they /toil and catch nothing./

(3.)

This net gathers of every kind, as large dragnets do.

In the visible church there is a deal of trash and rubbish, dirt and weeds and vermin, as well as fish.

(4.)

There is a time coming when this net will be full, and drawn to the shore; a set time when the gospel shall have fulfilled that for which it was sent, and we are sure it shall not return void, Is. 55:10, 11.

The net is now filling; sometimes it fills faster than at other times, but still it fills, and will be drawn to shore, when the /mystery of God shall be finished./

(5.)

When the net is full and drawn to the shore, there shall be a separation between the good and bad that were gathered in it.

Hypocrites and true Christians shall then be parted; the good shall be gathered into vessels, as valuable, and therefore to be carefully kept, but the bad shall be cast away, as vile and unprofitable; and miserable is the condition of those who are cast away in that day.

While the net is in the sea, it is not known what is in it, the fishermen themselves cannot distinguish; but they carefully draw it, and all that is in it, to the shore, for the sake of the good that is in it.

Such is God’s care for the visible church, and such should ministers’ concern be for those under their charge, though they are mixed.

2.

Here is the explanation of the latter part of the parable, the former is obvious and plain enough: we see gathered in the visible church, /some of every kind:/ but the latter part refers to that which is yet to come, and is therefore more particularly explained, v. 49, 50.

/So shall it be at the end of the world;/ then, and not till then, will the dividing, discovering day be.

We must not look for the net full of all good fish; the vessels will be so, but in the net they are mixed.

See here, (1.)

The distinguishing of the wicked from the righteous.

The angels of heaven shall come forth to do that which the angels of the churches could never do; they shall /sever the wicked from among the just;/ and we need not ask how they will distinguish them when they have both their commission and their instructions from him that knows all men, and particularly knows them that are /his,/ and them that are /not,/ and we may be sure there shall be no mistake or blunder either way.

(2.)

The doom of the wicked when they are thus severed.

They shall be /cast into the furnace,/ Note, Everlasting misery and sorrow will certainly be the portion of those who live among sanctified ones, but themselves die unsanctified.

This is the same with what we had before, v. 42.

Note, Christ himself preached often of hell-torments, as the everlasting punishment of hypocrites; and it is good for us to be often reminded of this awakening, quickening truth.

IV.

Here is the parable of the /good householder,/ which is intended to rivet all the rest.

1.

The occasion of it was the good proficiency which the disciples had made in learning, and their profiting by this sermon in particular.

(1.)

He asked them, /Have ye understood all these things?/

Intimating, that if they had not, he was ready to explain what they did not understand.