Matthew 13:44-58

“You are so beautiful, to Me…”

The seven parables spoken by the Lord Jesus as recorded in Matthew 13, give a prophetic overview of this age (church) until the Return of Christ.

1.  The first four parables, the Sower, the Wheat and Tares, the Mustard Seed, and the Leaven all speak of the time from Jesus’ birth to the Rapture of the Church. 

2.  The Hidden Treasure covers the time from Jesus’ birth to His Second Coming. 

3.  The Pearl covers the time from Pentecost to the Rapture of the Church.

4.  The Dragnet points us to the time of judgment at the end of the Tribulation Period. 

a. Not the White Throne Judgment- no separating at that time: only unbelievers will stand at the Judgment

The first four parables show us Satan’s opposition to the Word of God and the Work of God. 

1.  Jesus spoke these parables to the multitude, by the sea. (population in general)

a. the Sower:  The Word of God would not have widespread acceptance and decreasing effectiveness in the Church Age.

            b. the Wheat & Tares:  Speaks of imitation Christians within the church

c. the Mustard Seed:  Christianity grows so large that it attracts the counterfeit as well as the genuine (ie: Mormons etc.)

            d. the Leaven:  Speaks of the spreading of false doctrine within the church

2.  In these four parables, we see man’s view of the church. 

The next three parables Jesus spoke to His disciples in the house.  He pulled His disciples aside so as to encourage them and to show them how God sees the Church. 

1.  The Hidden Treasure - two possible interpretations:

Matthew 13:44

    "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

a. First- Jesus Christ (salvation) is a glorious treasure and when a person discovers it, he / she sells everything to obtain it.

                        i. Problem!  No one can buy eternal life.  It’s a free gift from God. 

Romans 6:23

    For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

b. Second- The field = the world. 

    The treasure = the Jewish people.

     Found treasure = Gods’ selection of the Jews to be His people

     Hid treasure = Jews were dispersed after their rejection of the Messiah- Israel as a nation was lost to the   world and as an influence for God

Even in the Old Testament, God speaks about the Jews being a special treasure to Him.  Three months after the Israelites left Egypt and came to the Sinai desert, God gave Moses this message…

Exodus 19:3-5

    And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: [4] 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. [5] Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.

Psalm 135:4

    For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special treasure.

Jesus came to bring the Jews salvation but they rejected Him and He hid them amongst the nations of the world.  John 1: 11 “He came to His own (special treasure) but His own (special treasure) did not receive Him (so He hid His special treasure)” He turned His attention to the Gentiles.  The Jews were “hidden” in the world.  By giving His life for the sins of the world, Jesus will one day turn His attention back to the Jewish people. (Romans 9-11)

2.  The Pearl of Great Price (13:45-46)- God will turn His attention to the salvation of the Gentiles.

Matthew 13:45-46

    "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, [46] who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

1.  What can we learn from the pearl in this parable?

            a. …like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls… to the Jews of that day, pearls had were not valuable

            b. Pearls were valued by the rest of the world

c. One pearl of great price = the church:  Out of all Gentile people those who come to Christ form this pearl of great price, the church.

d. Sold all that he had and bought it- We are not our own, we are bought with a price!  Jesus (Son of God) died for us so we could live with Him.

3.  Some things about the Pearl….

            a. it is a product of life from the oyster

            b. grain of sand lodges between the shells of the oyster- irritant

            c. to get relief- oyster secretes nacre (na ker) around the irritant (mother of pearl)

d. process doesn’t stop- oyster continues to secrete nacre around the irritant until the oyster becomes weaker and dies

            e. through the suffering and death of the oyster, the pearl is perfected

            f. the irritant causing the death of the oyster, becomes a gem of great value

4.  In the Pearl we have a picture of the formation of the Church over the past 2000 years.

            a. irritant= the Gentiles (in general, all sinful people)

            b. suffering and death of the oyster = suffering and death of the Lord Jesus

            c. As the pearl is not formed instantly, so either is the Church (over 2000 years so far)

John 10:16

    And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

1.  Speaks of the Gentiles (non-Jews) who would be brought into His Church.  Believing Jews (Hidden Treasure) and believing Gentiles (the Pearl) would comprise the Church.

1 Peter 2:7

    Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious;

1.  Better translated, “Unto you that believe is the preciousness;”

2.  The pearl (church) is precious to God – that’s you!

3. The Parable of the Dragnet (13:47-50)

Matthew 13:47-50

    "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, [48] which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. [49] So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, [50] and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

1.  Again, Jesus illustrates the separating process when the kingdom is gathered in. 

2.  Three possibilities:

a. (After the Tribulation Period) The good fish represent those who believe and make it through the Tribulation Period.  The bad fish are those who make it through the Tribulation but don’t believe and

are eternally lost.

b. (White Throne Judgment) The final time of separation.  All believers in Jesus Christ will forever be with Him in the New Jerusalem while all who do not believe in Jesus will be eternally lost.

c. (Salvation of the Elect) The dragnet speaks of evangelism.  The evangelism process is for the purpose of “finding” those that God has selected for salvation.

3.  God alone knows the hour of separation. 

4.  Many profess to know Christ, but Jesus said, “Depart from Me … I never knew you.” (Matt. 7)

5.  Contrary to those who believe in universal salvation (all will be saved in the end).

6.  This judgment will happen at the end of the Tribulation Period when the Lord Jesus returns to earth.  During the Tribulation, Israel and the Gentile nations will have one more opportunity to respond to the Gospel.  Those who respond and are saved will enter into Jesus’ millennial kingdom along with the Church; those who reject the Gospel will face eternal judgment (Rev.20).

7.  The Rapture of the Church separates believers from unbelievers at the end of the Church Age (Rev. 2&3).  The Dragnet of this parable, separates believers from unbelievers out of the Tribulation Period.

The Parable of the Householder (13:51-52)  Not included in the group with the other parables.

Matthew 13:51-52

    Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." [52] Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."

1.  Jesus was instructing His disciples about the “kingdom.”  It was important for them to understand.  It’s important for us to understand as well.  These are not just interesting stories that Jesus was describing.

2.  As we discover new truths from the Word of God we are not to keep it to ourselves but to instruct others.  As the GEICO gecko says, “I need you to help spread the word.”

3.  The Lord Jesus needs us to help spread the Word!

“Is this not the carpenter’s son?” (13:53-58)

Matthew 13:53-58

    Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. [54] And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? [55] Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? [56] And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?" [57] So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." [58] Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

1.  No!  He’s God’s Son.

2.  Unbelief will keep people from hearing what God has to say.

John 6:60-69

    Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?" [61] When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you? [62] What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? [63] It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. [64] But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. [65] And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father." [66] From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. [67] Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" [68] But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. [69] Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."