Matthew 13:44 - Meaning and Application

We have four short parables in these verses.

I. The parable of the treasure hidden in a field. So far, Jesus had compared the kingdom of heaven to small things, because its beginning was small. But to keep anyone from thinking lightly of it, he now shows its great worth in itself and its great benefit to all who receive it and submit to its terms. Here it is like a treasure hidden in a field, which we may make our own if we will.

Jesus Christ is the true treasure. In him there is an abundance of everything rich and useful that can become our portion: all fullness (Colossians 1:19; John 1:16), treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3), righteousness, grace, and peace. These are stored up for us in Christ, and if we belong to him, it is all ours.

The gospel is the field in which this treasure is hidden. It is hidden in the word of the gospel, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament gospel. In gospel ordinances, it is hidden like milk in the breast, marrow in the bone, manna in the dew, water in the well (Isaiah 12:3), and honey in the honeycomb. It is not hidden in a locked garden or a sealed spring, but in an open field. Whoever will may come and search the Scriptures, and dig in this field (Proverbs 2:4). Whatever rich mine we find there becomes ours if we take the right course.

It is a great thing to discover this treasure and to see its worth. So many people reject the gospel and will not spend anything or risk anything to receive it because they only look at the surface of the field and judge by that. They see no more excellence in the Christian faith than in the teachings of philosophers. Yet the richest mines are often in ground that looks barren. So they will not even bid for the field, much less pay the price. “What is your beloved more than another beloved? What is the Bible more than other good books? What is the gospel of Christ more than Plato’s philosophy, or Confucius’s morals?” But those who have searched the Scriptures until they found Christ and eternal life in them (John 5:39) have found such a treasure in this field that it becomes infinitely more valuable.

Those who see this treasure and value it rightly will never rest until they make it their own, whatever it costs. The man who finds the treasure hides it, which shows a holy watchfulness, so that we do not fall short (Hebrews 4:1) and so that no one takes it from us, while we keep watching carefully (Hebrews 12:15). He rejoices in it even before the deal is complete. He is glad that such a bargain can be had and that he is in a fair way to gain an interest in Christ. His heart can rejoice even while he is still seeking the Lord (Psalm 105:3).

He decides to buy the field. All who receive the gospel on gospel terms buy this field, because they make it their own for the sake of the hidden treasure. Christ in the gospel is what we must look to. We do not need to go up to heaven, for Christ in the word is near us. He is so intent on this that he sells all to buy the field. Those who want saving benefit through Christ must be willing to part with all, so they may make him sure to themselves. They must count everything else as loss, so they may win Christ and be found in him.

II. The parable of the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:45-46), which says the same thing as the treasure. The lesson is repeated because the truth is certain. All people are busy seeking fine pearls. One wants wealth, another honor, another learning. But most are deceived and settle for counterfeits instead of real pearls.

Jesus Christ is a pearl of great price, a jewel of priceless worth, that makes the one who has him truly rich, rich toward God. In having him, we have enough for happiness here and forever. A true Christian is a spiritual merchant who seeks and finds this pearl of great price. He does not settle for anything less than an interest in Christ. As one determined to be spiritually rich, he trades boldly. He went and bought that pearl, not only bidding for it but purchasing it.

What use is it for us to know Christ if we do not know him as ours, made to us wisdom (Colossians 1:30)? Those who want a saving interest in Christ must be willing to part with all for him and leave all to follow him. Anything that stands against Christ, or competes with him for our love and service, we must gladly give up, however dear it is to us. A man may pay too much for gold, but not for this pearl of great price.

III. The parable of the net cast into the sea (Matthew 13:47-49). The world is a vast sea, and the children of men are countless living creatures in that sea, both small and great (Psalm 104:25). People in their natural state are like the fishes of the sea that have no ruler over them (Habakkuk 1:14).

The preaching of the gospel is like casting a net into this sea to gather some from it for the glory of the one who rules the sea. Ministers are fishers of men, sent to cast and draw this net. They succeed when they let down the net at Christ’s word; otherwise they labor and catch nothing. This net gathers fish of every kind, like a large dragnet. In the visible church there is much trash and rubbish, dirt, weeds, and vermin, as well as fish.

A time is coming when this net will be full and drawn to shore. There is a set time when the gospel will complete the work for which it was sent, and we know it will not return empty (Isaiah 55:10, Isaiah 55:11). The net is filling now. At some times it fills faster than at others, but it keeps filling and will be drawn to shore when the mystery of God is finished.

When the net is full and drawn to shore, the good and the bad that were gathered in it will be separated. Hypocrites and true Christians will then be parted. The good will be gathered into vessels, as things of value that must be carefully kept. The bad will be thrown away, as worthless and unprofitable. Miserable indeed will be the condition of those who are cast away in that day. While the net is in the sea, no one can tell what is in it, not even the fishermen themselves. Yet they carefully draw it, with everything in it, to the shore, because of the good fish among it. So it is with God’s care for the visible church, and so ministers should care for all under their charge, even though they are mixed together.

Here is the explanation of the latter part of the parable. The first part is plain enough, since we can see that the visible church contains people of every kind. But the last part refers to what is still to come, and so it is explained more fully here. So it will be at the end of the world. Then, and not until then, will come the day of separation and clear discovery.

We should not expect the net to hold only good fish while it is still in the water. In the final gathering, the vessels will be full of good fish, but in the net they are mixed. Here we see, first, how the wicked will be separated from the righteous. The angels of heaven will do what the angels of the churches could never do, they will separate the wicked from among the just. We do not need to ask how they will tell them apart, because they have both their commission and their instructions from the One who knows everyone. He knows who belongs to him and who does not, and we can be sure there will be no mistake in either direction.

We also see the fate of the wicked after they are separated. They will be thrown into the furnace. Everlasting misery and sorrow will surely be the portion of those who live among God’s holy people, yet die without being made holy themselves. This is the same warning given earlier (Matthew 13:42). Christ himself often spoke of hell’s torment as the lasting punishment of hypocrites, and it is good for us to hear this wake-up call often.

Here we come to the parable of the good householder, which is meant to fix all the other teaching firmly in place. The occasion for it was the good progress the disciples had made in learning, especially from this sermon. He asked them, “Have you understood all these things?” That question showed he was ready to explain anything they still did not understand. It is Christ’s will that all who read or hear the Word should understand it, because otherwise how can they benefit from it? So it is good for us, after reading or hearing, to examine ourselves, or let others examine us, to see whether we have understood. There is no shame in Christ’s disciples being taught carefully. Christ invites us to come to him for instruction, and ministers should gladly help those who have honest questions about what they have heard.

They answered, “Yes, Lord.” We have reason to believe they spoke truthfully, because when they did not understand, they asked for an explanation (Matthew 13:36). That explanation opened the way to understanding the rest. A right understanding of one good sermon will often help us understand another, because good truths explain and support one another. Knowledge comes more easily to the person who understands.

The purpose of the parable was to praise their growth. Christ is ready to encourage willing learners in his school, even if they are still weak, and to say, “Well done.” He describes them as scribes instructed for the kingdom of heaven. They were learning so they could teach, and among the Jews, teachers were called scribes. Ezra, who set his heart to teach in Israel, is called a skilled scribe (Ezra 7:6, Ezra 7:10). In the same way, a wise and faithful gospel minister is also a scribe, but to set him apart, he is called a scribe instructed for the kingdom of heaven, meaning he is well taught in the truths of the gospel and able to teach them well. Those who will instruct others need to be well instructed themselves. If the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, then his mind must first be filled with knowledge. And a gospel minister’s training must center on the kingdom of heaven, because that is where his work lies. A man may be a great thinker or statesman and still be a poor minister if he is not taught for the kingdom of heaven.

Christ also compares them to a good householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old, like fruits from last year and this year, in plenty and with variety for his friends (Song of Songs 7:13). A minister should have a store of things new and old. Since he has so many different duties, he must stock himself well during his years of learning, with truths from the Old Testament and the New, with the old and the new ways God has helped his people, so that the servant of God may be fully equipped (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 3:17). Old experiences and new observations both have value, and we should not be content with old discoveries alone. We must keep learning.

And what should a minister do with this store? He should bring it out. He gathers in order to give out, for the good of others. Many are full, but they give nothing, they have a talent, but they bury it. Such people are useless servants. Christ himself received so that he might give, and we should do the same. Then we will have even more to share. In bringing things out, old and new work best together, old truths with fresh methods and fresh words, and above all, fresh affections.