Flashback Episode — From God’s Perspective: Matthew 13:44-50

Not long after Jesus shared the parable of the farmer sowing seed that we looked at in our last episode, we discover that Jesus shared a set of lesser-known parables with His disciples while they are alone together.

However, as I have grown up in church and have heard two of the three parables in this set explained many times, as I have grown with God, I have begun to wonder if we are stopping short of a powerful truth that Jesus wanted us to learn. Part of this stopping short is ignoring the last parable in this set, while another part of stopping short relates to only viewing these parables from one perspective and not two.

Similar to how our previous episode focused on a very foundational parable, as I have studied and focused on the set of parables we will be looking at in this episode, the framing of these parables have shaped how I look at every single one of Jesus’ other parables.

So without any further delay, let’s look at this set of parables in our passage for this episode. Our passage is found in Matthew’s gospel, chapter 13, and we will read it using the New International Version. Starting in verse 44, Jesus taught His disciples by saying:

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.

These three parables wrap up a longer series of parables that Jesus shares in the early portion of Matthew chapter 13. I have heard the first two parables in this set shared many times and in many different ways. But almost always, I have heard these two parables framed as parables challenging us believers to treasure and focus on finding God like we are looking for a pearl or like we just found a treasure hidden in a field.

I wholeheartedly agree with this truth: We are to be constantly on the lookout for hidden treasure and valuable pearls as represented in these two parables – and that Jesus is the most valuable treasure we can find.

However, too often, we stop here. I don’t recall ever hearing a sermon on the third parable in this set, and I’m skeptical if I have heard a sermon framing the first two parables differently than I just described.

When reading this set of parables, I am struck with the realization that the third parable does not fit the same frame that we often times place the first two parables in. While the first two parables can easily be understood in the context of us seeing treasure and fine pearls, the third parable, which also contains the theme of seeking good fish, prompts us to look from a different perspective. Since Jesus does briefly explain the third parable, we can understand and conclude that the third parable is shared from God’s perspective when Jesus returns.

This pushes us past where we might be otherwise inclined to go. If these three parables are all speaking to the same or similar truths, and the third parable in this set is clearly explained as being from God’s perspective, then the best place for us to start looking at the other two parables is if they were shared from God’s perspective as well.

This means that while we should value seeking God like a treasure hidden in a field or like a valuable pearl and sell everything we own to acquire the priceless treasure, looking at these parables from God’s perspective challenges us with the parallel truth that God does the exact same thing.

In the first parable, where the kingdom of heaven is framed as a treasure hidden in a field, we could imagine that God is looking out across the universe, and hidden in the field known as the Milky Way galaxy, is a small, bluish-green planet locally known as Planet Earth. On this planet is a treasure, and God “sells” everything to acquire it.

However, if you are objecting to this interpretation because you understand the truth that God owns everything already, you’re not wrong. However, the perspective in Jesus’ parable is not on who owns what, but how much the main character is willing to give up to purchase the treasure. By choosing to disobey God and sin, our race sold itself into sin and slavery, and through Jesus, God came and purchased us. Another way to say this truth is that God redeemed us.

To further emphasize this point, the second parable compares the kingdom of heaven to a merchant looking for fine pearls. While the first parable has the kingdom of heaven being a treasure, we are also taught that the kingdom of heaven is actively seeking additional treasure. This too is significant, because God is looking at every one of us and looking at our character. A merchant who specializes in fine pearls is going to know when he finds one that is exceptionally valuable, and Jesus makes the case in this parable that God is actively searching for valuable people that He can purchase and save. When He discovers people who He sees as valuable, He sold everything He could to buy us back.

While you may not think of yourself as valuable or special in your own eyes, God sees more in you than you could ever know or understand – and regardless of what you have done to make you think that you are not valuable, in God’s eyes, you are worth sending Jesus to die in your place. You are worthy of God’s redemption.

The third parable compares the kingdom of heaven with a fishing net. If God’s kingdom is like the net itself, then it gathers everyone, both the good and the bad, before separating the righteous, valuable people from those who are wicked.

In all three of these parables, the focus is on acquiring things of value. The explanation of the third parable gives context for this block of three. These three parables are important from God’s perspective, and He is actively seeking out each of us because we are valuable to Him.

All too often, we like to place ourselves in Jesus’ parables, but while we may initially think of ourselves as the man who finds hidden treasure, or as the merchant, or even as a fisherman, the perspective given from God’s eyes places us as part of the hidden treasure called planet earth, part of the exceptionally valuable pearl called the human race, and as a fish – hopefully a good fish – that was gathered and saved by Him.

God loves you and I so much that He sold everything in order to get us back. He succeeded, but has left us with the freedom to choose whether to be free in Him, or whether to reject His gift. God will not force His gift on us. Instead, He allows you and I to choose whether we accept this gift or not.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, intentionally seek God first in your life. Understand and believe that God loves you so much that He paid the ultimate price to buy you back from sin. Realize that God loves you more than you could ever imagine.

Also, continue to pray and study the Bible for yourself. Through prayer and Bible study, discover how you can grow closer to God as you move personally closer to Him through personal prayer and study. With personal prayer and Bible study, discover who God really is and just how much He loves you!

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or abandon where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!