Bible Study series: Matthew 13:44-46. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price. You have to give up all you have to get the better thing.
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In the next link to the original chapter, I comment more and offer the Greek text. At the bottom you will find a “Summary and Conclusion” section geared toward discipleship. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Matthew 13:44-46
44 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a person finds and hides, and because of joy, goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.
45 Again the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. 46 When he finds one pearl of great value, he went out and sold everything he had and purchased it. (Matt. 13:44-46)
Comments:
44:
This short parable has two main interpretations. (1) It is about doing whatever it takes to acquire the kingdom of God. Are you willing to give everything for it? (2) A “person” is Jesus who buys the buried treasure–you and me. I prefer the first interpretation, as do most of the commentators.
Buried treasure stories were a big hit in the ancient world. In the days of unstable banking burying coins and jewels was security against famine and Roman armies. In Matt. 25:25 a servant buried his one talent.
Jewish texts discussed what to do when someone found buried treasure. In the colonial days in our country, people scoured the forests and countryside looking for the best land; then they staked their claims and worked hard for it. On the other hand, if someone else owned the land but missed the fertile fields and did not see the potential, yet he sold it, then so much the worse for him. The new buyer is now rich. However, let’s not be so precise about the law, here. Let’s assume that the finder found it legally.
Don’t miss out on the kingdom of God.
“person”: see v. 30 for more comments.
Probably the central character of this parable was a peasant working a wealthy landowner’s field who when plowing turned up a strongbox or jar containing coins. Once he bought the field the contents of the field legally belonged to him (especially with a contract covering the land “with all that is in it” […]. (Keener, p. 391)
The point is obviously the absolute value of the kingdom, worth surrendering everything to attain. No other aspect is highlighted in this short parable, so clearly this a call for radical discipleship (and especially financial sacrifices needed) in light of the overwhelming value of the kingdom. Only a few know its worth, and they surrender everything to obtain it. (Osborne, comment on 13:44).
Blomberg warns against over-interpreting the details of the man’s behavior:
One should not worry about the man’s ethics in hiding the treasure. We need neither justify his behavior nor imitate it. This is simply part of the story line that helps to make sense of the plot. Jesus frequently tells parables in which unscrupulous characters nevertheless display some virtue from which Christians can learn (cf. esp. Luke 16:1–8; 18:1–8). (Comment on 13:44)
45:
This short parable illustrates the same thing as the previous one. It has two possible interpretations.
(1) The pearl of high value is the kingdom of God. A wise merchant finds it and sells everything he has to acquire it. Are you willing to sell everything—give up your life and soul and self-will to sign up for God’s eternal kingdom and let him take over your life? This man is in search of wealth, while the agrarian stumbled across the treasure. The kingdom has a way of working in a variety of people and their goals.
(2) An alternative interpretation says that the kingdom of heaven is like the merchant, and he goes out and finds the pearl. Who is the merchant? Jesus. Who is the pearl? You. You are the one whom Jesus looks for.
The commentators listed below correctly choose the first interpretation. The kingdom—not you—is of priceless value. I prefer the standard one. The kingdom as Jesus presented it is so valuable that we give up everything for it.
“merchant”: it literally reads anthrōpos (pronounced ahn-throw-poss), which is often translated as “person” or “man,” depending on the context. See vv. 24-30 for more comments. I chose the more specific “merchant” because of the noun emporos, which means “merchant” or “wholesale dealer” (the Shorter Lexicon). So it could literally be translated as “merchant man” or “merchant person.” Lydia, a woman, was a dealer in purple clothes and dyes (Acts 16:14).
GrowApp for Matthew 13:44-46
1. How sold out are you for the kingdom of God? Describe.
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SOURCES
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