The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. 46 When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. 47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. 48 When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. 49 Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. 51 “Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” 52 And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” 53 When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.
The parables of the buried treasure and the valuable pearl (vv. 44-46) focus our attention on the incomparable value of the Kingdom of Heaven. The action taken by a person after they understand the value of the Kingdom of Heaven is important (Mk. 10:17-22). The great value of the kingdom is its abundant gifts (treasure) and its beauty (pearls). The true disciple, whether poor or wealthy, would joyfully sell all that he possessed to obtain such a great treasure (Lk. 5:11). We are to make our greatest effort and be willing to renounce everything to attain the riches of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Verses 47-50 are similar to the parable of the weeds among the wheat (vv. 24-30; 36-43). The disciples tell Jesus that they understand the two parables. The Kingdom on earth in its imperfect state is comprised of saints and sinners, and God casts his net over all (Mt. 22:10). Everyone has the capacity to grasp the knowledge of the kingdom if they turn their hearts towards God, be drawn into a relationship with Him, and be converted. At the end of the age, God and his angels will separate the good from the bad and each will be judged and get his/her just reward, eternal life or eternal damnation (Jn. 5:29). Until then, those trying to attain the Kingdom will have to use patience, tolerance, and perseverance.
The disciples understood what Jesus taught but many in the crowd heard the parables as riddles and did not understand. True disciples understand the word of God (v. 51-52) and they become the scribes in the new Israel Jesus is forming. They have the advantage of being schooled in the Law of Moses (the old) and are now being taught by Jesus (the new) so that they can be the head of a household who can teach the old when necessary and teach the new which fulfills the old (Mt. 5:17).
Almighty God, grant us the desire to turn our hearts completely to you so that we may see the treasure and pearls that await us in the Kingdom of Heaven and let nothing stop us from attaining them. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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