Matt 13:44-58 The Parabolic Discourse - Part 3 - by Jeff Byerley
Study on Matt 13:44-58 The Parabolic Discourse - Part 3
13:44 The Parable of the Hidden Treasure.
13:45-46 The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price.
13:47-50 The Parable of the Dragnet.
12:53-58 Jesus Rejected at Nazareth.
Our Reflections
1. What was Jesus teaching in the parables of the hidden treasure and pearl of great price (13:44-46)?
2. What did Jesus teach in the parable of the dragnet (13:47-50)?
3. Why did Jesus ask if the disciples understood his parables (13:51)?
4. What did Jesus mean “ like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old” (13:52)?
5. Why did the people of Nazareth disbelieve Jesus (13:53-58)?
1. What was Jesus teaching in the parables of the hidden treasure and pearl of great price (13:44-46)?
We felt that in each case Jesus is saying that the treasure found is worth more than all one's worldly treasures, which one must be prepared to depart with in order to have the other. It does not matter whether one is an expert in seeking this treasure or merely stumble across it! All that matters is recognizing its great value and grasping it with both hands. Jesus is the great treasure and nothing more can be important than following him. This was something the rich young ruler failed to do (19:16-22). Indeed, Jesus will give us insight where it is not right to pursue those who only have contempt for this treasure. “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces” (Matt 7:6).
2. What did Jesus teach in the parable of the dragnet (13:47-50)?
As with the wheat and the tares (13:3-9, 18-23), Jesus teaches and explains that there is a day of reckoning for everybody at the end of this age. The good will be sorted from the bad with eternal consequences. It is not that the “good” will have been found perfect in themselves. Rather, they have accepted to be covered with Christ's righteousness as compared to those who have rejected Christ.
3. Why did Jesus ask if the disciples understood his parables (13:51)?
The disciples were chosen so that they would themselves be teachers (cf v.52 “scribes”) of others. Jesus was only too willing to give further explanation if needed. However, they replied that they understood. They understood (a) the importance of receiving well the kingdom (soils); (b) the humble growing / permeating of a great kingdom (mustard seed, yeast); (c) the consequences of receiving / rejecting the kingdom (wheat and tares, good and bad fish); and the priceless value of Jesus' kingdom (hidden treasure, pearl of great price). We noted that later events showed their understanding was not perfect, but it was growing and would be used fruitfully later.
4. What did Jesus mean “like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old” (13:52)?
We believe this is referring to both the Old and New Testaments. The OT is an old treasure in revealing the Word of God and pointing to the coming Messiah. The NT is a treasure, revealing who Christ is, how He fulfills God's promise of salvation and wraps up history with its eternal consequence. Indeed, Jesus' teaching shows how the old is to be understood by the new. Michael Wilcox, in the NIV Application Commentary on Matthew, provides further background. The Greek word “oikedespoles” translated here as “householder”, is not just referring to someone bringing out old and new treasures to gaze upon and return to its safe location. The oikedespoles was someone who brought treasures out to be used fruitfully, such as dividing his estate among tenant farmers or to pay wages to his laborers. As Jesus' disciples we are to be workers “who correctly handle the Word of God” (2 Tim. 2:15).
5. Why did the people of Nazareth disbelieve Jesus (13:53-58)?
These verses show that Jesus was indeed fully human as well as divine. Before he began his ministry, Jesus led a very quiet ordinary life, albeit “in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). Indeed, this gives rise to evil suspicion among the townspeople as to the source of his wisdom and mighty works. This was not unlike the Pharisees who with blasphemy attributed the source of his power to Satan (12:22-32). The townspeople declared that Jesus was trained as a carpenter, (not as the student of some great rabbi). Also they note that he comes from a very ordinary poor family. They name his family members including his mother “Mary”, a quite common name. We believe the inference was that he cannot be genuine, that his power was not from a godly source and that he must be some sort of conjurer, an ordinary person contemptibly acting beyond his station in life, in an attempt to dupe them for some ill purpose. Their unbelief limits Jesus' ability to do mighty works. Are our works limited by some degree of disbelief in Jesus' power to work through us?