Jesus tells three parables about the kingdom of heaven. The first two compare it to a treasure hidden in a field and a pearl of great value that people sell all their possessions to obtain. The third parable describes the kingdom as a net cast into the sea gathering all kinds of fish, which are sorted, with the good kept and bad thrown out. Jesus asks the disciples if they understand, and they say yes. He then says that scribes trained for the kingdom are like managers who provide both new and old treasures from their storehouse.

2. Matthew 13:44-46
“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.
www.networkbible.org
ESV, 2016

3. Matthew 13:47-48
“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.
www.networkbible.org
ESV, 2016

4. Matthew 13:49-50
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.
www.networkbible.org
ESV, 2016

5. Matthew 13:51-52
“Have you understood all these things?”
They said to him, “Yes.” And he said to
them, “Therefore every scribe who has
been trained for the kingdom of heaven is
like a master of a house, who brings out of
his treasure what is new and what is old.”
www.networkbible.org
ESV, 2016

7. The value of something to
you is MEASURED by
what you are willing to
give in EXCHANGE for it.

8. The value of something to
you is MEASURED by
what you are willing to
give in EXCHANGE for it.
It is easier to live for today’s PLEASURES than
tomorrow’s PROMISES. Are tomorrow’s
promises WORTH the cost of some of today’s
pleasures?

9. The value of something to
you is MEASURED by
what you are willing to
give in EXCHANGE for it.
It is easier to live for today’s PLEASURES than
tomorrow’s PROMISES. Are tomorrow’s
promises WORTH the cost of some of today’s
pleasures?
Salvation is FREE but following Jesus comes
with COST

10. One interpretation sees
Christ as the MERCHANT, the
pearl the CHURCH, and the
CROSS the price paid for her.

11. One interpretation sees
Christ as the MERCHANT, the
pearl the CHURCH, and the
CROSS the price paid for her.
The difficulty is not in whether these points
are TRUE, but if that is what Jesus is teaching
in these PARTICULAR parables.

12. One interpretation sees
Christ as the MERCHANT, the
pearl the CHURCH, and the
CROSS the price paid for her.
The difficulty is not in whether these points
are TRUE, but if that is what Jesus is teaching
in these PARTICULAR parables.
To say the disciples do not understand
EVERYTHING is not to say they understood
NOTHING, so what is it they understood?

13. Jesus is talking PRIVATELY to
the disciples who need
ENCOURAGMENT after
leaving everything to follow.

14. Jesus is talking PRIVATELY to
the disciples who need
ENCOURAGMENT after
leaving everything to follow.
There is great joy for those of FAITH who
KNOW what they have and realize the
KINGDOM is worth whatever the cost.

15. Jesus is talking PRIVATELY to
the disciples who need
ENCOURAGMENT after
leaving everything to follow.
There is great joy for those of FAITH who
KNOW what they have and realize the
KINGDOM is worth whatever the cost.
Having been taught they are to SHARE what
they have LEARNED.

16. Please take a moment to fill out your
Communication Card
NEXT STEPS
( ) Do the home life help (in bulletin)
( ) Identify if my values reflect God’s values
( ) Meditate on God’s promises
( ) Contemplate what it means to follow
Jesus
( ) Ponder my value to Jesus; His value to me
( ) Other________________________