Every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found the one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."

- Matthew 13:44-52

In last week's readings, Jesus gave us many parables. In context, Matthew's gospel introduces us to Jesus' preaching of parables with The Parable of the Sower, and Therefore hear the parable of the sower (in which Jesus explains the parable to His disciples). Last week, we read the readings that follow, beginning with Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares? in which Jesus gave us the parable of the Wheat and the Tares. Next, He proceeded to preach more parables of the Kingdom: the Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Parable of the Leaven. Matthew's Gospel tells us that He always spoke to the multitude in parables, in order to fulfill the prophecy, "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world." On Saturday, we read about Jesus alone with His disciples, and they asked Him to explain the parable of the Wheat and the Tares. He said, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." Here we have more parables from Christ, about the great worth and value of this spiritual kingdom, this discovery that we may make for ourselves. What is it worth to you? Are you willing to sell all for it? Is it that precious to you? My study bible says, "The driving desire of men for wealth pictures the desire of the soul for heavenly riches. The treasure is described as hidden because it requires faith and perseverance to discover it." What is this treasure worth for you in your life?

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found the one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." Here we have the beautiful parable of the pearl of great price. I imagine that volumes could be written on this parable alone (and perhaps they have!) But Christ is giving us many parables to teach us of the value of this kingdom, its great treasure for us and in us. A pearl alone is worth many metaphors. A pearl, in the ancient world, was a "true pearl" - not a cultured pearl - in which layers and layers of nacre form a pure pearl, without an inner core of a different material. So a pearl can be analogous to the "pure in heart," those for whom hypocrisy doesn't exist. The pearl of great price is the wealth that this kingdom represents, that the pure of heart treasure and will see. Again, in the ancient world we are talking about an exceptionally rare jewel, in a time when the only pearl known was a naturally formed one, not a cultured pearl as in today's market. For many of the apostles, for countless saints and lovers of God, sacrifice of all that one had has been required for this kingdom, and a price paid.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Here we return to the theme of Judgment, as in Saturday's reading and the explanation of the parable of the Wheat and the Tares. My study bible says, "The Kingdom is compared to a fishing net which gathers the good and the wicked, an image similar to that of the parable of the tares. The point is that the final judgment will finally disclose and separate the wicked from the righteous." In this parable, it is the action of the Kingdom, of the Spirit, that gathers all for final judgment; so it is in the age in which we live. When the time is full, the Judgment will happen. This is the promise He makes.

Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old." My study bible says, "Jesus does not reject the Old Testament; rather, He commends it and calls it treasure. Fulfillment is found, however, in the New Testament, which leads to a complete understanding of the Old Testament. This parable describes how Matthew, a Christian scribe, composed his Gospel." The Old and the New complement one another, take from one another, are all a part of this great treasure. The riches of the Kingdom are also found in both Old and New Testaments, the one informing the other, and also vice versa. This is why our Bible puts both together; the wisdom of Christ is timeless, and was before all ages, and will be in the age to come. It is we who gather revelation and await new understanding that will also illuminate the old.

So how do you see the treasure of God? Is it something you are willing to give all for? Something worth every sacrifice? Jesus speaks of the Judgment once again in today's reading. Implied in the teaching about Judgment at the end of the age is the importance of the choices that we make. And again, we go back to the words Jesus repeats from Old Testament Scripture: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" What is the condition of the heart? Can you receive the wisdom of the Spirit? Do you hear what you can hear? It all goes back to our true treasure, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Are you willing to make sacrifices for this Kingdom? In my life I have had to make many choices, many of them feeling like great sacrifices. But to treasure the Kingdom above all takes a kind of faith that is also fed by our daily bread: the great treasure old and new itself about which Jesus speaks in today's reading. What do you take out of your storehouse of treasure? What is it that truly feeds you? What is your pearl of great price, worth everything else?