THE FIRST GREAT GROUP OF PARABLES
(Beside the Sea of Galilee)
Subdivision G
PARABLES OF TREASURE, PEARL, AND NET
MATT 13:44-53
A miscellany of commentaries of the parables of the treasure, pearl and nets---but first some context on the progression of this gospel:
"The previous chapter (Mat_12:1-50) is probably the major turning point in the book. The King had authenticated His power by various miracles. But growing opposition to the King climaxed when Israel’s leaders concluded that Jesus worked not by divine power but by satanic power (Mat_9:34; Mat_12:22-37). While their full rejection of Him did not occur until later, the die was cast. Therefore Jesus turned to His disciples and began to instruct them along different lines. This is one of several major discourses in the Gospel of Matthew (others are in chaps. 5-7; Mat_10:1-42; 23-25)." -BKC
Commentary on these parables:
"You may say that the treasure is the blessing that comes from Christianity, or the inward wealth of a submissive heart, or may use various modes of expression, but below them all lies this one great thought, that it is laid on my heart, dear brethren, to try and lay on yours now, that, when all is said and done, the only possession that makes us rich is-is what? God Himself. For that is the deepest meaning of the treasure. And whatever other forms of expression we may use to designate it, they all come back at last to this, that the wealth of the human soul is to have God for its very own."
-MacLaren
"You remember the beautiful emphasis of one of the parables in our text about the man that dissipated himself in seeking for many goodly pearls? He had secured a whole casket full of little ones. They were pearls, they were many; but then he saw one Orient pearl, and he said, ‘The one is more than the many. Let me have unity, for there is rest; whereas in multiplicity there is restlessness and change.’ The sky to-night may be filled with galaxies of stars. Better one sun than a million twinkling tininesses that fill the heavens, and yet do not scatter the darkness. Oh, brethren, to have one aim, one love, one treasure, one Christ, one God-there is the secret of blessedness. ‘Unite my heart to fear Thy name’; and then all the miseries of multiplicity, and of drawing our supplies from a multitude of separate lakes, will be at an end, when our souls are flooded from the one fountain of life that can never fail or be turbid.Thus, the unity of the treasure is the supreme excellence of the treasure." MacLaren
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| The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price |
"And I beseech you to ask yourselves, Is there anything worth calling wealth, except that wealth which meets my deepest need, which satisfies my whole nature, which I may have all in one, and which, if I have, I may have for ever?" MacLaren
"No one but a fool will deny the convenience and the good of having a competency of this world’s possessions. But all these have this miserable defect, or rather limitation, that they each satisfy some little corner of a man’s nature, and leave all the rest, if I may so say, like the beasts in a menagerie whose turn has not yet come to be fed, yelping and growling while the keeper is at the den of another one. There is only one thing that, being applied, as it were, at the very centre, will diffuse itself, like some fragrant perfume, through the whole sphere, and fill the else scentless air with its rich and refreshing fragrance. There is but one wealth which meets the whole of human nature. You, however small you are, however insignificant people may think you, however humbly you may think of yourselves, you are so great that the whole created Universe, if it were yours, would be all too little for you." -MacLaren
In these seven parables He presented some truths they were well aware of and others that were new to them. They knew about a kingdom over which Messiah would rule and reign, but they did not know it would be rejected at the time it was offered. They knew the kingdom would include righteousness, but they did not know it would also include evil. Jesus pointed up a new truth that the period between His rejection and His second coming would be characterized by professing followers, both good and evil. This era would have a small beginning, but it would grow into a great “kingdom” of professors. Once this process began, it could not be stopped, and within it God is maintaining His people Israel and creating His church. This interadvent period will end with a time of judgment in which God will separate the wicked from the righteous and the righteous will then enter the earthly kingdom to rule and reign with Christ. Through these parables Jesus answered the question, What happened to the kingdom? The answer: God’s will be established on earth at Jesus’ second coming; meanwhile good and evil coexist. -Bible Knowledge Commentary
Parables of the Kingdom in Matthew 13
Parables
References
Meaning
1. The Sower
Mat_13:1-23
The good news of the gospel will be rejected by most people.
2. The Wheat and the Weeds
Mat_13:24-30, Mat_13:36-43
People with genuine faith and people with a false profession of faith will exist together between Christ’s two Advents.
3. The Mustard Seed
Mat_13:31-32
Christendom, including believers and unbelievers, will grow rapidly from a small beginning.
4. The Yeast
Mat_13:33-35
People who profess to belong to God will grow in numbers without being stopped.
5. The Hidden Treasure
Mat_13:44
Christ came to purchase (redeem) Israel, God’s treasured possession.
6. The Pearl
Mat_13:45-46
Christ gave His life to provide redemption for the church.
7. The Net
Mat_13:47-52
Angels will separate the wicked from the righteous when Christ comes.
-BKC
"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 (Pro_2:4); and whatever royal mines we find, they are all our own, if we take the right course." -Matthew Henry
"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." -Matthew Henry
"Note, [1.] Those who are to instruct others, have need to be well instructed themselves." -MH
"He compares them to a good householder, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old; fruits of last year's growth and this year's gathering, abundance and variety, for the entertainment of his friends, Son_7:13. See here, [1.] What should be a minister's furniture, a treasure of things new and old. Those who have so many and various occasions, have need to stock themselves well in their gathering days with truths new and old, out of the Old Testament and out of the new; with ancient and modern improvements, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished, 2Ti_3:16, 2Ti_3:17. Old experiences, and new observations, all have their use; and we must not content ourselves with old discoveries, but must be adding new. Live and learn." -MH
"God’s truth is always new and always old. It is as fresh as the morning breeze for each coming generation. But however stated, the fundamental facts are invariable. Let us store our minds and hearts with holy and helpful thoughts, so as to deal them out as the occasions serve." FB Meyer
"Sons and daughters were born to Joseph and Mary, whose names are here given. Alas, that we do not see the glory in common, familiar people and circumstances! Never forget that the absence of expectant faith does more to limit the progress of the gospel than the lack of funds!" FB Meyer
"The scribes, you see, were not originally as off the wall as we think of them today. Originally, in the days when Ezra brought a group of exiled Jews back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city after the captivity, the purpose of the scribes was to teach truth. Initially, the scribes were great seekers and teachers of truth. And Jesus is here saying, "You should be like scribes—drawing from the Old Testament and from the New Covenant." -FB Meyer
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