You are A Pearl of Great Value


 

Parables. . .

I’m studying Matthew chapter 13.  Much of the chapter is devoted to the teaching parables of Jesus.

Parable             Verses

Sower          4-9

Tares          24-30

Mustard seed          31-32

Leaven                33

Hidden treasure         44

Pearl of great value          45-46

Net            47-50

New and Old Treasures 52

The parable of the sower has traditionally a heavenly perspective.  The Word of God is spread among men, and has various outcomes depending on the condition of the soil. . . (men’s hearts)

The parable of the Tares, likewise has a traditional heavenly perspective.  Tares, false darnel, is a poisonous plant that looks identical to wheat until the seed forms, and only then is it distinguishable from the wheat seed.  Good seed (Word of God) is planted in the field of mankind, the World, and among true believers, but among the true believers poisonous false believers will spring up, which will be separated out at the time of harvest.

The parable of the mustard seed.  Traditionally looked upon from the perspective of a believer, whose faith grows into a huge structure, from a tiny beginning, but cannot this also be understood from a larger heavenly perspective?  From the modest beginning of one Man’s (Jesus) ministry on earth, was birthed the belief of billions.

The parable of the leaven, a heavenly perspective.  The Word of God, again from a tiny beginning, spreading by incubation, and culturing into the entire lump of dough.

The parable of the hidden treasure.  Traditionally read from a human perspective, a man finding the gospel and selling everything for it, but I believe this can also be read from a heavenly perspective. . . God found a hidden treasure. . . YOU AND I.  He gave everything, including His life to purchase this field. . . the world, so that we could have salvation.

The parable of the pearl of great value.  Like the hidden treasure, usually read from a human perspective, but I believe that WE are the pearl of great price.  God gave ALL to purchase you and I for His kingdom.

The parable of the net.  This is read from a heavenly perspective. At the end of the age, at the time of judgement, the earth will be harvested, and all will be gathered into the net of judgement.  The workers of iniquity will  be cast into the furnace of fire, and the just will be taken to heaven and life eternal with God.

The parable of the new and old treasures. I don’t have a clear leading on this parable, like the previous, it can be understood two ways, from an earthly or heavenly perspective.  Jesus espoused new ideas, but he also often quoted the Old Testament prophets, and Law.

We know that Jesus was often misunderstood both by His enemies, and by His disciples.  Most frequently, Jesus was speaking spiritually, and the hearers took His meaning as earthly.  We also know that quite often when He spoke, his words intentionally had dual meanings.

The core idea, which spawned all this, has been on my mind for several weeks, is that WE are the pearls of great price. . . WE are the treasures hidden in the field.  He GAVE ALL to purchase us.  

Thoughts on a rainy Saturday morning. . . 

I love You my God. . .

Thank You for Your Word. . .

<3

Dave 


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