‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’
Have you understood all of this? Jesus
asks. They answered: “Yes.”
I have to admit that I am a bit
jealous of the disciples here, because I certainly do not understand all of
these parables. And maybe I’m just a
little bit suspicious to if they really do understand, because with all the
other parables they have asked for an explanation. But I digress.
5 parables on the
kingdom of heaven. What do you think the
kingdom of heaven is like? It reminds me
of something that has gone around the internet a few times.
- GOD is like Coke...He’s the real thing.
- GOD is like General Electric...He brings things to life.
- GOD is like Bayer Aspirin...He works wonders.
- GOD is like Hallmark Cards...He cares enough to send the very best.
- GOD is like Tide...He gets the stains out that others leave behind.
- GOD is like Dial Soap...Aren’t you glad you know him? Don’t you wish everyone did?
- GOD is like Scotch Tape... You can’t see him, but you know he’s there.
What is the kingdom of heaven like?
A massive shrub that grows from a seemingly insignificant seed?
Like the most beautiful, precious pearl you’ve ever seen?
Like finding a hidden treasure?
Like the miracle of turning ground grain into bread by adding a few tiny grains of yeast?
Or like a bulging net of floppy fish of every kind that God has gathered together?
No matter, there is something here
that seems just a little off to me.
Rushing out to buy a field because you know it is worth far more than
the seller is aware, while perhaps being shrewd, is at least dubious, if not
dishonest.
There is a certain joyfulness in the
one who sells all to buy a pearl, although few people around would have
understood his actions. It seems a
little crazy, unless you are not satisfied with what you have.
And the fish – how do I make sure I’m
put into the good basket and not thrown out with the bad?
I don’t know what to do with my
questions today. Other than live with
them. Maybe the good news that I find
here is that Jesus takes everyday things:
mustard seeds, yeast, a pearl, a field, some fish; and he sees in each
of those things something no one else does.
Faith is like that. Faith is not so much about knowing how many
books are in the Bible; what the longest chapter in the Bible is; even where to
find the book of Amos, or who the Apostle Paul is. Faith is about believing and trusting a
promise. It’s not about knowledge, it’s about
trust. The kind of trust that leads you
to act and speak differently.
I wonder what Jesus would have said
if, when he asked the question: Do you understand all of this? They would have said: Not at all.
I don’t know. But I’d like to think he’d say: That’s alright. Simply trust the promise that I am with
you.
Let’s pray: God of light and love,
shine your face in all the dark places in your world; places that need our attention
and our love. Amen.
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