Matthew 13:44-50, 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
The Parable of the Net
47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
In the teachings/sermon given by our Lord Jesus Christ there are two topics on which He has spoken extensively. He tried to educate and teach the ordinary man about the Kingdom of Heaven through His parables. But man gave importance to the treasures found in this world rather than the treasures found in Heaven. Mark 10:17,
The Rich and the Kingdom of God
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” 28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
If you want to take something from the top shelf it is not possible without raising your hands. If one wants to receive gifts from above you would have to give up on several things. One would have to sacrifice on things. Today many people are ill due to various diseases like, diabetics, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. We are at times unable to give up some food items even though harmful. Similarly, alcohol, lust filled desires begin to grow roots within us. Some people often make jokes about the Kingdom of Heaven. the Lord has spoken very clearly about the final day of judgement. There is absolutely no doubt about what He has said will come true.
1. Matthew 13:44, 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. In this we read that Jesus has compared the Kingdom of Heaven to a field where there is treasure. A man sold all his belongings and bought the field. Such was his joy on finding the treasure. We too should have such joy for the Kingdom of Heaven and its treasure.
2.Kingdom of heaven compared to a pearl: Once a merchant found a precious pearl. He sold all his belonging and bought that pearl for himself. The treasures of Heaven are also as precious. We need to be ready to sacrifice for them.
3.Heaven is compared to the net that is thrown into the vast sea to catch fishes
In the first two parables Lord Jesus has compared the Kingdom of Heaven to treasures. He has taught us that we should give more importance to the treasures in Heaven rather than the treasures in this world. Luke 12:18-21, 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
In the third parable Jesus has compared Heaven to a fish net, which teaches us about the final days of judgement. In a fish net all types of fishes are caught. The fisherman then throws away the bad fish/ not edible ones back into the sea and separates the good ones. On the final day of judgement, Lord will gather together the evil and the good. But then He will select the righteous and take them away with Himself and throw the evil into the furnace of never ending fire.
Matthew 13:24-30, 24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
In this we read that the man let the weeds grow along with the wheat. When it was time to harvest, he asked the servants to collect the weeds and then burn them, while the wheat is collected into the barn.
Everyone has the desire and hope of going to the Kingdom of Heaven. But the Lord says that only a few are selected. Dear children of God, think isn’t it time to repent and introspect within ourselves. There is no certainty about tomorrow. Let us pray with an earnest heart for help from the Holy Spirit. Pray that our names are also included in the Book of Life.
Let me share a story by Rev. Chakunni, a three year old child put his/her hand inside a glass jar with a small neck. The child had put his/her hand inside the jar to take out a coin that was inside. But the the child had held the coin in a tight fist and hence was unable to take the hand out from the small neck. Parents and relatives were all very upset seeing the child cry. The situation got worse and they were left with the option to break the beautiful jar.
By then a talented doctor reached their home. The doctor took out a really expensive doll from his bag and showed the child. ‘Ding;, everyone present heard the cling of the coin in the jar. The child left the coin that was in the fist and ran to the doctor to get the expensive doll. We too are like the children. We are running after the coins of this world and ignoring the precious gift of Heaven.
Philippians 3: 7, 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
The Lord Jesus Christ has said the following about the Kingdom of God,
Mark 10:25, 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3, 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
Matthew 18:3, 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Now let us see what apostle Paul says about the kingdom of Heaven,
1 Corinthians 6:9, 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men.
1 Corinthians 15:50, 50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
Galatians 5:19-21, 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:5, 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Jehovah Roi 