Matthew 13 ,44-52.
The first four of the seven parables in this Parable Discourse (Ch 13), focus on how the kingdom comes, while the remaining three discuss the priorities required of those who want to enter the kingdom.
Treasures were routinely buried in their owners’ fields, considered a secure place from robbers, brigands, or foreign soldiers. According to Jewish law at the time of Jesus the finder of treasure had a right to it. If, however, the finder worked for the owner of the land the find would be deemed part of his work and therefore belonging to the land-owner. The only way for such a finder to get undisputed rights to a find is to buy the land, which happens in today’s first parable.
The merchant in search of fine pearls is simply doing his job when he finds the pearl. Pearls were valued on a par with gold in ancient times.
Each finder appreciates the value of his find and makes certain that he gains ownership of it. The first goes off joyfully, sells everything he owns and buys the field to own the treasure in it. The investment is worth everything he owns. The finder of the pearl does likewise. Each makes an investment that costs everything he has. Likewise, when a follower of Jesus discovers the kingdom he /she delights in their discovery and embraces it with total commitment. It is worth giving everything they have got, i.e. total commitment, to enter it.
The parable of The Dragnet is very similar to the parable of the Wheat and Darnel (last Sunday’s gospel). The harvest from the field and from the sea is followed by a separation of the good from the bad, the wheat from the weeds, and the clean fish from the unclean. ( Lev. 11,10-12). The note of judgement, which appeared at the end of the interpretation of the parable of the Wheat and Darnel, appears here, as well. The separation/judgement will come at the end of time. The angels will appear and separate the wicked from the just and throw the wicked into the fiery furnace.
The disciples by their “yes” claim to clearly understand and accept the message of the kingdom. The things old and the new (v51-52), which the householder (scribe) brings out from his storeroom could be the Old Testament and the new teaching of Jesus based on it and elaborating it. By the time Matthew was writing his gospel, it could also refer to the application of Jesus’ teaching by the Christian community to the new situation in which they found themselves, being expelled from the synagogue and persecuted), around 85 AD.
The man who found the treasure in the field found it in the course of his work and through the fruits of his work bought it. In the course of our work most people find and live kingdom values.
Pearls and treasure were also Old Testament images for wisdom.
The kingdom, (knowing Jesus and his love, and living it the here and now) is the pearl of great price, worth any sacrifice to attain it; and the goal of all wisdom.
The church like a dragnet is inclusive and is happy to leave judgement of who is fit for the kingdom to God.
Grace builds on nature. God builds on what we are and works with what is there. Our gifts, talents, opportunities and means can work together with God’s grace to make the kingdom of God present in our lives, our families, our communities, and our world.
Fr Geoff O’Grady