44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. 47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied. 52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
This Sunday’s gospel contains several parables from Matthew about the kingdom of heaven. The first two focus on finding the kingdom and giving everything one has to obtain it. In verse 44, Jesus speaks of discovering a hidden treasure in a field. Note that Jesus does not give us the background to the story: whose treasure it was or how it came to be there or even to whom the field belonged. Nor does he make a moral judgment about the man’s actions. His point is that when we encounter the kingdom, we must make an instant decision and be willing to sacrifice all we have for it.
The second parable is similar and tells of finding a pearl of great price. Some scholars argue that the pearl represents, not the kingdom, but Jesus. However, finding the kingdom is the same as finding Jesus and vice-versa. The two go together.
The final parable returns to the subject of the last judgment (which appeared in the previous Sunday’s gospel). Once again we’re told that the wicked will be separated at the end from the good and face punishment, although it can also be interpreted as the evil being purged from each of us. Indeed, Matthew says nothing about the fate of the good fish which supports the argument that he’s more concerned with the problem of evil than with punishment and rewards. In verse 47 we’re told that the net “caught all kinds of fish,” which suggests the universal nature of the judgment.
In the final part of this reading, Jesus asks his disciples if they have understood his point, and they reply in the affirmative (unlike in earlier parables). In the last verse, Jesus tells them that they will bring forth both old and new things from their storeroom. What does this mean? Of course, old could refer to the Old Testament and new to the new revelation that Jesus brings. On the other hand, could mean the older Jewish tradition and the more recent one of Gentile Christians. In any case, Jesus assures us that evil will be destroyed and thus will not be part of the kingdom of heaven.
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