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The Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

Two very short parables about finding something worth everything — and selling all, with joy, to have it.

Read Matthew 13:44–46 in the reader

Awaiting theological review

Before you read

Who Jesus was speaking to

Scripture

These two parables come near the end of Matthew 13. Jesus has left the crowds and is speaking in the house to his disciples.

Interpretation

After the parables of slow growth, these two speak of a moment: the discovery that changes everything.

Matthew 13:44–46

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition · Public Domain

A treasure hidden in a field44The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in a field. Which a man having found, hid it, and for joy thereof goeth, and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. One pearl of great price45Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant seeking good pearls. 46Who when he had found one pearl of great price, went his way, and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Two finds, one decision

The man in the field and the merchant

For joy thereof

The man in the field

He stumbles on the treasure by chance, and sells everything to buy the field.

  1. 13:44 — For joy thereof goeth, and selleth all that he hath

Interpretation

The key word is joy. He is not making a grim sacrifice; he is getting the best bargain of his life. Following Christ is first a discovery, then a decision.

Think about it

Have you ever found something — or someone — worth giving up a lot for?

Seeking good pearls

The merchant

Unlike the man in the field, he is searching — and when he finds the one pearl, he too sells all.

  1. 13:46 — Went his way, and sold all that he had, and bought it

Interpretation

Some people find God by surprise; others after a long search. The two parables together say that both roads lead to the same choice.

Think about it

Are you more like the one who stumbled on the treasure, or the one who was searching?

What first hearers would have noticed

Context

Treasure in the ground

History & scholarship

In a land often crossed by armies, people hid valuables in the ground, and some were never recovered. Finding a buried treasure was a classic story of sudden fortune.

Pearls

History & scholarship

In the ancient world pearls came from the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, and the finest were worth a fortune. A merchant who dealt in them would know at once when he had found the one.

Look closer

Symbols

HiddenMatthew 13:44

Interpretation

The Kingdom is not obvious; it is hidden in an ordinary field, and many walk past it.
Selling allMatthew 13:46

Scripture

In the next chapters a rich young man is invited to sell what he has and follow Jesus, and goes away sad (Matthew 19:21–22).

Remember

Quiz me

Question 1 of 3beginner

Where was the treasure hidden?

The next question

The rich young man who could not let goThe mustard seedWhat does it mean to follow Jesus?Paul: all things as loss