St Matthew, Chapter 13, verses: 45 - 46, The Kingdom of Heaven: The search of Fine Pearls.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the pearl of great price)  

The kingdom of heaven is like.  Christ continues to tell the disciples about the kingdom of heaven that they may understand truth.  He continues to educate his disciples that they may know the kingdom, that they may see the kingdom, that they may have the wisdom of heaven within themselves to teach others.  For one does not teach what one does not know and Christ wants his disciples to know.  Christ wants his disciples to believe.  Christ wants his disciples to see.  Christ wants his disciples to have wisdom.  For they will carry the message of the kingdom.  They will be the light to shine forth to men.  They will battle the evil in the world and spread the good news of the kingdom of heaven here on earth.

The weeds have already been planted and are growing.  The weeds are growing among the good seeds of the kingdom.  The weeds are wrapping themselves around the fruit of the kingdom and choking the life from the fruit.  But Christ brings life to the seeds.  Christ brings nurturing to the good seeds.  Christ brings love to the good seed that they may know truth in the kingdom.  For the good seed searches for truth.  The good seed seeks to know.  The good seed desires to possess the kingdom that is buried deep within them.  Christ tells another parable about the kingdom.  He says, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.   When he finds a single pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it." 

The kingdom of heaven is like.  The good seed seeks the fine pearls.  The good seed seeks the treasure in the field.  The good seed seeks the truth.  The good seed seeks all that is Christ.  The good seed seeks love.  The good seed seeks peace.  The good seed seeks happiness.  The good seed seeks patience.  The good seed seeks humility.  The good seed seeks the wisdom of the kingdom of heaven.  The good seed seeks all that is Christ.  The good seed seeks faith.  The good seed seeks hope.  The good seed seeks justice.  The good seed seeks the riches of the kingdom of heaven.  What do you seek?

The kingdom of heaven is like.  Christ has given us parables to live by today.  He has given us comparisons.  He has given us a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven.  The kingdom is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.  We all seek something in this physical world.  Some seek wealth.  Some seek truth.  Some seek knowledge.  Some seek understanding.  Some seek peace.  Some seek love.  Some seek those things that would satisfy their inner needs and cravings. 

We think that if we just had the good things of life that we would be happy.  So, we seek those things that we think will bring us happiness, i.e., more money, fine clothes, beauty, physical prowess, marketable talents, a loving mate, the typical family, power, influence, etc.  All these things we seek to fulfill our inner needs that we believe will satisfy us.  So, in many ways we too are like merchants seeking fine pearls.  When we find our desired worldly pearls we sell everything to own it.  We sell ourselves to own that which we seek, be it a  well paid position, wealth, power, influence.  All the things that our hearts desire, we sell ourselves to them that we may own them. 

Yet these things are worldly and satisfy only temporarily.  They are like the mist that evaporates when the sun comes out.  Wealth and money buy things but do not buy permanence.  Power and influence are of this world and last as long as we are in it.  All these things are here today and gone tomorrow.  Yet these are the things that we seek to fill our inner needs.  The kingdom of heaven is like.  What pearls do you seek?  Do you seek the pearls of the kingdom or do you seek the pearls of the world?  Do you give all to own the pearls of the world or would you sell all to own the pearls of the kingdom?   Which do you value?

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 44, The Kingdom of Heaven: Like a Hidden Treasure.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the treasure).   

Christ continues to create a picture of the kingdom of heaven.  He continues to paint a portrait of the similarities of the kingdom of heaven to those things that people know.  Those who seek will find.  Those who knock will have doors opened to them.  Those who ask will receive.  Christ wants to help the people and his disciples see.  He wants to help them understand.  He wants to help them to know the truth of the kingdom of heaven.  Some will understand.  Some will perceive.  Some will come to know.  Others will hear and not understand.  Others will seek and not find.  Others will not perceive the truth of the message.  The evil one has stolen their hearing.  The evil one has blinded their eyes.  The evil one has taken away their understanding that they may not perceive the truth of the kingdom that they may be healed and come to Christ.

For this reason Christ speaks to the people in parables.  For this reason he tells stories.  For this reason he entertains to some and gives knowledge, hidden since the foundation of the world, to others.  For to those who have more will be given.  And to those who do not have, even that which they do have will be taken away.   Christ tells his disciples,  "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field; he who finds it hides it, and in his joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

The hidden treasure of the kingdom is waiting to be found, according to Christ.  It is hidden in a field.  Christ said that the field is the world.  He said that the good seed was planted in the world and that the good seed was the sons of the kingdom.  Is he speaking of worldly treasures?  Is Christ talking about gold and gems and diamonds and such, hidden in the ground waiting to be discovered?  Those who find such treasures will sell everything they own to have that field, that piece of land that has the gold, that has the diamonds, that has the precious gems.  They would even sell their own souls to own such wealth.   Some would lie to own it.  Some would kill to own it.  Some would do any and everything to own the treasures of the earth.  Is this the treasure that Christ speaks of in this parable?

Christ has given us this parable that we may know.  He has given us this parable that we may perceive the difference in the world and the kingdom of heaven.  For to those who have more will be revealed.  The kingdom of heaven is like a man who finds a treasure hidden in a field.  What do you treasure?  Men treasure many things, many worldly things.  The sons of the kingdom treasure the true gifts of the kingdom.  Seek and you shall find.  Knock and it shall be opened to you.  Ask and you shall receive.  Have you found your treasure? 

What do you value in the kingdom of heaven?  Is it gold?  Is it diamonds?  Is it jewels?  Or do you treasure things other than worldly gems?  Do you treasure peace?  Do you treasure joy?  Do you treasure love?  Do you treasure happiness?  These are the gifts, the treasures of the kingdom.  They are only available temporarily in the world.  But in the kingdom they are eternally yours.  What do you treasure?  Have you found your treasure?  If you find your treasure will you sell all to own it, now?  Will you give up all to keep it, now?  Your treasure is waiting for you.  Seek and you shall find!  Knock and it shall be opened!  Ask and it shall be given to you!  Be careful what you ask!  Be careful where you seek!  Be careful where you knock that you would have opened!  What do you treasure?

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 43, The Kingdom of Heaven: The Just will shine like the Sun.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the weeds explained) Part 4. 

The prophecy has been made.  The disciples have heard.  The day of the harvest is forecast.  And the weeds will be gathered up and burned in the furnace of fire.  Christ has given the disciples his knowledge, his wisdom and his understanding of the parable of the weeds that they may understand.  He has opened their eyes and their minds so that they may see and perceive the kingdom of heaven.  He has given them a glimpse of the kingdom by his comparisons of things hear on earth that they may know.  They are the messengers.  They will be the tellers of the parables after Christ has finished.  They will be the ones who will carry the torch of new life to the ends of the earth.

Christ finishes the parable by telling them what happens at the very end of the harvest.  There will be rejoicing.  There will be happiness.  There will be great merriment at the coming of the Lord of the harvest.  For he will clean the fields.  He will burn the weeds.  And he will collect the wheat into the barns of his house that there may be a great feast.  For Christ tells them,  Then the just will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  

The just will shine at the end of the harvest.  The darkness will be removed at the end of the harvest.  The weeds will be burned at the end of the harvest.  All the just will rejoice at the end of the harvest for the time of the Lord of the harvest has come.  Christ tells his disciples that they may see.  Christ tells his disciples that they may know.  Christ tells his disciples that they may have the understanding of his wisdom and knowledge of the kingdom of heaven. 

The kingdom of heaven is like a field.  The field is the earth.  The good seeds that are sown are the sons of the kingdom of heaven.  Can you see the kingdom?  Do you understand the kingdom?  The kingdom of heaven is like a sower who goes out and plants good seed in his field.  The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which when planted grows to be the tallest plant in the garden.  The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which when placed in three parts all become leavened.  Do you hear the message?  Do you have the knowledge of the parable of the weeds?  Can you perceive the kingdom of heaven?  It is at hand.  It is near you.  It is in you.  It is part of you.  See the light that shines forth for at the harvest of the just will shine forth like the sun.  And there will be no darkness.  And Christ said,  He who has ears to hear, let him hear.