Unimaginable Value – Matthew 13:36-50

The value of something is dependent on several factors: rarity, ability to get you something of worth, the “in” factor. We often attach a monetary factor to it. But as C. S. Lewis said, “All that is not eternal is eternally out of date.” Nothing has more value than the eternal.

Jesus speaks to the value of the kingdom and the absence of value that awaits those who do not embrace the value of the kingdom.

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:36-50 ESV)

Away from the crowds Jesus interprets the parable of the good seed and weeds.  Then he tells two parables about the value of the kingdom and brackets them on the back end with another parable similar to that of the weeds.  This makes the two that speak about the coming judgment in which the good and the evil are separated out by the angels and the evil ones are thrown in the “fiery furnace” a warning surrounding two invitations to embrace the invaluable kingdom.

Jesus doesn’t need to interpret the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price.  The disciples and we understand exactly what he is getting at.  We have given up everything, the determination of our own lives’ courses and indeed our own lives, in order to have what our souls have longed for all along, a relationship with the King and a place in the sun in His kingdom where there is joy forevermore.

In the meantime, we deal with the current imperfect form of this kingdom, not fully revealed, where the enemy can sow bad seed among us.  We wait longingly for justice to be served at the judgment. But we are not waiting idly. We are sowing seed as well, the seed of the gospel that is producing a bountiful harvest of saved souls, new additions to the kingdom that starts small but then swells in size. We are gripped by the value of this great find, life eternal, and long for others to share it with us.