"The KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is like TREASURE that a man discovered hidden in the field. In his excitement, he hid it again and SOLD EVERYTHING HE OWNED to get money to buy the field." Matthew 13:44 (NLT)
"Again, the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is like a merchant on the look out for CHOICE PEARLS. When he discovered the PEARL OF GREAT VALUE, HE SOLD EVERYTHING HE OWNED and bought it." Matthew 13:45 (NLT)
The difference between these TWO SHORT PARABLES that JESUS told about the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is that one man was "actively searching" for his TREASURE, the other man "stumbled across" the PEARLS. They were both of GREAT VALUE, and both men "SOLD EVERYTHING" they owned to make their purchase.
They also found "TRUE JOY" in their purchase, because the Kingdom of God is all about de a growing relationship with our Father God and His Son Jesus. I still find this joy every day day, as I continue to develop this relationship with Him, and I remember when I was a child - the greatest TREASURE I found was in the WORD OF GOD and I still love sharing it with others.
"The TREASURE and the PEARL are very VALUABLE in the KINGDOM OF GOD." David & Pat Alexander
"Lord, thank you that we can have a RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, that is of GREAT VALUE. Help us to keep close to you." Nicky Gumbel
6. THE FISHING NET
"Once again, the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is like a NET that is let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on to the shore. Then they sat down and collected the GOOD FISH in baskets, but threw the BAD AWAY. This is how it will be at the END OF THE AGE." Matthew 13: 47-49 (NIV)
These parables about God's Kingdom have been quiet "heavy" at times, especially this one about the "end of the age". The obvious point is that ther is a difference between GOOD AND EVIL, and we can follow one way or the other. We cann follow Jesus and His will, obedient to His Kingdom, and and one day we will spend time with Jesus and His Father in Heaven. Or, we can follow our our own way, or the "devils" (evil), and I hate to tell you this, but it will not end well.
"The angels will come and seperate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 13:49&50 (NIV
"We have alternatives: We can follow the way of MATERIALISM - following our OWN WAY, NO GOD or CREATOR. Or there is the MYSTICISM - MATTER IS ANTI SPIRITUAL - where we can accept that there are gods, but follow different religions. Non - Christians totally ignore God or keep Him at a distance. We appoint ourselves as "little kings" of our own lives, running our own way. We turn away from God , and declare that we are in charge of our lives. We REJECT HIM as our RULER AND CREATOR. We find ourselves trapped, making selfish decisions, lying and cheating, pulled in wrong directions." Tony Payne
But we don't need to do this, for Paul reminds us:
"Therefore, there is NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives us LIFE HAS SET YOU FREE from the law of SIN AND DEATH." Romans 8:1&2 (NIV)
"Every student of the Scripture who becomes a disciple of the Kingdom is like someone who brings out new and old treasure into the storeroom." Matthew 13:52 (CEV)
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but SET AN EXAMPLE for the believers in SPEECH (what you say), in CONDUCT (the way you live), in LOVE, in FAITH and in PURITY. Until I come, devote yourself to the PUBLIC READING OF SCRIPTURE (to the Church), to PREACHING and to TEACHING (encouraging the believers)." 1 Timothy 4:12&13 (NIV/NLT)
I love becoming a "student of the Scripture", both reading the Bible myself and sharing what I learn with others.
"The Holy Bible - New International Version", 2011, Biblica
"The Holy Bible - New Living Version", 2015, Tyndale House Foundation
ALEXANDER, David & Pat, "The Lion Handbook to the Bible - 4th Edition", (2009) LionHudson Publishers
PAYNE, Tony, "Learn the Gospel - Deepen Your Understanding and Trust About Jesus", (2004), Matthias Media
"Jesus Is My Treasure - A Joful Parable of Pearl - Matthew 13:45&46" (2025) The Bible Song for Kids.
"Song 14: Parable of the Net" , Col Johnston (2025), Our Gospel in Song Collection
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