Parables

Parables of the kingdom

The treasure in the field - Matthew

From the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 13, Verses 45-46

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field; a man finds it and hides it again; then he goes, full of joy, sells all his possessions and buys that field. The kingdom of heaven is also similar to a merchant who goes in search of precious pearls; found a pearl of great value, he goes, sells all his possessions and buys it.

Matthew Parable exegesis

This parable should help us to understand what the kingdom of heaven is, but to do so we must first of all understand the similarities reported in it: the first image with which the kingdom of heaven is compared is that of a treasure hidden in a field; the second, of a merchant who goes in search of precious stones. Both similarities allude to the recognition of Jesus, an act strictly necessary to achieve the kingdom of heaven.

In the first similitude, man recognizes Jesus in that field which contains a great treasure and in which he hides again the treasure he has just found, to then go full of joy to sell all his possessions, in order to buy that field; what is described for this man is what Jesus summarizes as indispensable conditions for following him when he says: "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me" (Mt 10:37); therefore whoever finds Jesus must leave everything to follow him, as did the first disciples who left nets, boats, parents, brothers, everything just to be at his side.

But this "leaving everything" also means abandoning all doubts, because when you "discover" Jesus, you will also find those who give the certainty of the presence of God: it is that hidden treasure that you were looking for and that you will now do everything to keep it. The treasure, therefore, is the truth of God; and the field where the treasure is hidden, is Jesus. It is Jesus who leads you to the truths of God and then, when you discover it, you will not be able to avoid leaving everything to follow him: He will give you the light of truth and nobody will be able to deceive you ; for this you will sell everything you have, to buy that field and keep that treasure with you forever.

This detail is important: the man in the parable buys the field where there is the treasure, and not directly the treasure: the man who buys the field where there is the treasure represents who has understood the truth of God (treasure), but is aware that without Jesus (field) even that truth would go out; this is why there is always a need for that field, that is, for Jesus, to preserve and make the treasure that it contains eternally last, so much so that it is hidden again so that it is not disfigured, stolen, scattered: the truth of God is good most precious that we can conquer, is the kingdom of heaven. If you have discovered the truth of God in Jesus, then you must be with him, otherwise you lose the truth itself.

But the kingdom of heaven is also similar "to a merchant who goes in search of precious pearls; having found a pearl of great value, he goes, sells all his possessions and buys it". The act of the merchant, wandering and almost lost, in his search for the most precious pearl known, alludes to what Jesus does to confirm the content of this parable when, "got off the boat, he saw a large crowd, he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things".
(Mk 6:34).

That crowd, like sheep without a shepherd, looking for him, is thirsty for that truth that no one has managed to fill; I am therefore like the merchant in search of the pearl of great value. Again, it is a similitude that refers to something (here the pearl, first the field) that holds great value. The pearl, similarly to the field, represents Jesus: if you recognize in him that truth you seek, then you will behave as described in this parable, that is, sell all your possessions in order to possess it.

The arguments of the apostles, in the new Testament, are all centered on recognizing the truths of God in Jesus, and this objective is very important, since if man does not reach this truth, he cannot reach salvation, the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is the answer to that thirst for truth and he himself declares it when he answers Pilate's question: "Are you the king of the Jews? [...] My kingdom is not of this world [...]. You say it : I am king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world: to bear witness to the truth"
(Jn 18,33-37).

If Jesus accepted to be immolated, it is because he wanted men to be able to understand the truth and consequently obtain salvation.

This truth will change your life and, if you place all certainty in him, then Jesus will become your guide to the conquest of the truth and you will be invested with infinite joy, because if he is the one to guide you you will certainly be in communion with God. Even the first apostles , they behaved as described in the parable and left everything: this is the foundation of being Christian. Unfortunately, today's Christians are surrounded by the hypocrisy of hypothetical truths; however we still have the opportunity to discover the only truth: immersed in the confusion that surrounds us, they find us in the condition of the crowd / flock that has no shepherd; but Matthew, returning this parable to the Christian community, urges us to believe only in Jesus, so that the truth can be recovered in him.

Therefore, Christians are those who recognize Jesus and His only truth. Even the first apostles knew this well, already shortly after the Master's death and resurrection, they were worried about the insinuation of other gospels, in contrast with the truth announced by Jesus. However the apostles, especially Peter and Paul in their addressed letters to the first Christian communities, they insist on the announcement given by Jesus and testify to it with their own life.

Their teaching also applies to us today, who must learn not to abandon our certainties, our convictions by chasing false truths; today, in fact, we prefer to let the truth be interpreted freely and the criterion of this interpretation is no longer Jesus, but is goodism: by virtue of the fact that Jesus is described as good and infinitely merciful, everything becomes licit in the belief that in in any case any fall, any mistake will be justified and forgiven without any consequence. But what kind of announcement is this? In this way, to justify certain behaviors, to spread and give credibility to human thoughts, the truth is hindered, even if we talk about Jesus.

The apostles gave their lives to spread the truth, the only truth, without hesitation: "The next day their leaders, the elders and the scribes, the high priest Anna, Caiaphas, John, Alexander and all gathered in Jerusalem they belonged to families of high priests. They made them appear before them and asked them: "By what power or in what name did you do this?" [...] "What should we do to these men? [...] In order not to spread more among the people, we forbid them with threats to speak to anyone in that name again. "They called them back and ordered them not to speak in any way or to teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied: "If it is right before God to obey you instead of God, judge him. We cannot keep silent what we have seen and heard".

(Acts 4,5-20).This parable should help us to understand what the kingdom of heaven is, but to do so we must first of all understand the similarities reported in it: the first image with which the kingdom of heaven is compared is that of a treasure hidden in a field; the second, of a merchant who goes in search of precious stones. Both similarities allude to the recognition of Jesus, an act strictly necessary to achieve the kingdom of heaven.

In the first similitude, man recognizes Jesus in that field which contains a great treasure and in which he hides again the treasure he has just found, to then go full of joy to sell all his possessions, in order to buy that field; what is described for this man is what Jesus summarizes as indispensable conditions for following him when he says: "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me" (Mt 10:37); therefore whoever finds Jesus must leave everything to follow him, as did the first disciples who left nets, boats, parents, brothers, everything just to be at his side.

But this "leaving everything" also means abandoning all doubts, because when you "discover" Jesus, you will also find those who give the certainty of the presence of God: it is that hidden treasure that you were looking for and that you will now do everything to keep it. The treasure, therefore, is the truth of God; and the field where the treasure is hidden, is Jesus. It is Jesus who leads you to the truths of God and then, when you discover it, you will not be able to avoid leaving everything to follow him: He will give you the light of truth and nobody will be able to deceive you ; for this you will sell everything you have, to buy that field and keep that treasure with you forever.

This detail is important: the man in the parable buys the field where there is the treasure, and not directly the treasure: the man who buys the field where there is the treasure represents who has understood the truth of God (treasure ), but is aware that without Jesus (field) even that truth would go out; this is why there is always a need for that field, that is, for Jesus, to preserve and make the treasure that it contains eternally last, so much so that it is hidden again so that it is not disfigured, stolen, scattered: the truth of God is good most precious that we can conquer, is the kingdom of heaven. If you have discovered the truth of God in Jesus, then you must be with him, otherwise you lose the truth itself.

But the kingdom of heaven is also similar "to a merchant who goes in search of precious pearls; having found a pearl of great value, he goes, sells all his possessions and buys it". The act of the merchant, wandering and almost lost, in his search for the most precious pearl known, alludes to what Jesus does to confirm the content of this parable when, "got off the boat, he saw a large crowd, he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things".
(Mk 6:34).

That crowd, like sheep without a shepherd, looking for him, is thirsty for that truth that no one has managed to fill; I am therefore like the merchant in search of the pearl of great value. Again, it is a similitude that refers to something (here the pearl, first the field) that holds great value. The pearl, similarly to the field, represents Jesus: if you recognize in him that truth you seek, then you will behave as described in this parable, that is, sell all your possessions in order to possess it.

The arguments of the apostles, in the new Testament, are all centered on recognizing the truths of God in Jesus, and this objective is very important, since if man does not reach this truth, he cannot reach salvation, the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is the answer to that thirst for truth and he himself declares it when he answers Pilate's question: "Are you the king of the Jews? [...] My kingdom is not of this world [...]. You say it: I am king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world: to bear witness to the truth" (Jn 18,33-37). If Jesus accepted to be immolated, it is because he wanted men to be able to understand the truth and consequently obtain salvation.

This truth will change your life and, if you place all certainty in him, then Jesus will become your guide to the conquest of the truth and you will be invested with infinite joy, because if he is the one to guide you you will certainly be in communion with God. Even the first apostles , they behaved as described in the parable and left everything: this is the foundation of being Christian. Unfortunately, today's Christians are surrounded by the hypocrisy of hypothetical truths; however we still have the opportunity to discover the only truth: immersed in the confusion that surrounds us, they find us in the condition of the crowd / flock that has no shepherd; but Matthew, returning this parable to the Christian community, urges us to believe only in Jesus, so that the truth can be recovered in him.

Therefore, Christians are those who recognize Jesus and His only truth. Even the first apostles knew this well, already shortly after the Master's death and resurrection, they were worried about the insinuation of other gospels, in contrast with the truth announced by Jesus. However the apostles, especially Peter and Paul in their addressed letters to the first Christian communities, they insist on the announcement given by Jesus and testify to it with their own life.

Their teaching also applies to us today, who must learn not to abandon our certainties, our convictions by chasing false truths; today, in fact, we prefer to let the truth be interpreted freely and the criterion of this interpretation is no longer Jesus, but is goodism: by virtue of the fact that Jesus is described as good and infinitely merciful, everything becomes licit in the belief that in in any case any fall, any mistake will be justified and forgiven without any consequence. But what kind of announcement is this? In this way, to justify certain behaviors, to spread and give credibility to human thoughts, the truth is hindered, even if we talk about Jesus.

The apostles gave their lives to spread the truth, the only truth, without hesitation: "The next day their leaders, the elders and the scribes, the high priest Anna, Caiaphas, John, Alexander and all gathered in Jerusalem they belonged to families of high priests. They made them appear before them and asked them: "By what power or in what name did you do this?" [...] "What should we do to these men? [...] In order not to spread more among the people, we forbid them with threats to speak to anyone in that name again. "They called them back and ordered them not to speak in any way or to teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied: "If it is right before God to obey you instead of God, judge him. We cannot keep silent what we have seen and heard".
(Acts 4,5-20).

Even today, this must be the attitude of those who want to follow Jesus, implementing His teachings and believing in His truth: if we recognize Jesus as our guide, in us there will no longer be sin because, recognizing him and living as He says, we will be in communion with God, conquering salvation and eternal life: "I am the true vine and my Father is the farmer. Every branch that does not bear fruit in me, cuts it and every branch that bears fruit, prune it to bear more fruit. You are already pure, because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me and I in you (Jn 15: 1-4); "seek first the kingdom of God and do his will: all the rest God will give you more".
(Mt 6,33).This parable should help us to understand what the kingdom of heaven is, but to do so we must first of all understand the similarities reported in it: the first image with which the kingdom of heaven is compared is that of a treasure hidden in a field; the second, of a merchant who goes in search of precious stones. Both similarities allude to the recognition of Jesus, an act strictly necessary to achieve the kingdom of heaven.

In the first similitude, man recognizes Jesus in that field which contains a great treasure and in which he hides again the treasure he has just found, to then go full of joy to sell all his possessions, in order to buy that field; what is described for this man is what Jesus summarizes as indispensable conditions for following him when he says: "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me" (Mt 10:37); therefore whoever finds Jesus must leave everything to follow him, as did the first disciples who left nets, boats, parents, brothers, everything just to be at his side. But this "leaving everything" also means abandoning all doubts, because when you "discover" Jesus, you will also find those who give the certainty of the presence of God: it is that hidden treasure that you were looking for and that you will now do everything to keep it. The treasure, therefore, is the truth of God; and the field where the treasure is hidden, is Jesus. It is Jesus who leads you to the truths of God and then, when you discover it, you will not be able to avoid leaving everything to follow him: He will give you the light of truth and nobody will be able to deceive you ; for this you will sell everything you have, to buy that field and keep that treasure with you forever.

This detail is important: the man in the parable buys the field where there is the treasure, and not directly the treasure: the man who buys the field where there is the treasure represents who has understood the truth of God (treasure ), but is aware that without Jesus (field) even that truth would go out; this is why there is always a need for that field, that is, for Jesus, to preserve and make the treasure that it contains eternally last, so much so that it is hidden again so that it is not disfigured, stolen, scattered: the truth of God is good most precious that we can conquer, is the kingdom of heaven. If you have discovered the truth of God in Jesus, then you must be with him, otherwise you lose the truth itself.

But the kingdom of heaven is also similar "to a merchant who goes in search of precious pearls; having found a pearl of great value, he goes, sells all his possessions and buys it". The act of the merchant, wandering and almost lost, in his search for the most precious pearl known, alludes to what Jesus does to confirm the content of this parable when, "got off the boat, he saw a large crowd, he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things".
(Mk 6:34).

That crowd, like sheep without a shepherd, looking for him, is thirsty for that truth that no one has managed to fill; I am therefore like the merchant in search of the pearl of great value. Again, it is a similitude that refers to something (here the pearl, first the field) that holds great value. The pearl, similarly to the field, represents Jesus: if you recognize in him that truth you seek, then you will behave as described in this parable, that is, sell all your possessions in order to possess it.

The arguments of the apostles, in the new Testament, are all centered on recognizing the truths of God in Jesus, and this objective is very important, since if man does not reach this truth, he cannot reach salvation, the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is the answer to that thirst for truth and he himself declares it when he answers Pilate's question: "Are you the king of the Jews? [...] My kingdom is not of this world [...]. You say it: I am king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world: to bear witness to the truth" (Jn 18,33-37). If Jesus accepted to be immolated, it is because he wanted men to be able to understand the truth and consequently obtain salvation.

This truth will change your life and, if you place all certainty in him, then Jesus will become your guide to the conquest of the truth and you will be invested with infinite joy, because if he is the one to guide you you will certainly be in communion with God. Even the first apostles, they behaved as described in the parable and left everything: this is the foundation of being Christian. Unfortunately, today's Christians are surrounded by the hypocrisy of hypothetical truths; however we still have the opportunity to discover the only truth: immersed in the confusion that surrounds us, they find us in the condition of the crowd / flock that has no shepherd; but Matthew, returning this parable to the Christian community, urges us to believe only in Jesus, so that the truth can be recovered in him.

Therefore, Christians are those who recognize Jesus and His only truth. Even the first apostles knew this well, already shortly after the Master's death and resurrection, they were worried about the insinuation of other gospels, in contrast with the truth announced by Jesus. However the apostles, especially Peter and Paul in their addressed letters to the first Christian communities, they insist on the announcement given by Jesus and testify to it with their own life.

Their teaching also applies to us today, who must learn not to abandon our certainties, our convictions by chasing false truths; today, in fact, we prefer to let the truth be interpreted freely and the criterion of this interpretation is no longer Jesus, but is goodism: by virtue of the fact that Jesus is described as good and infinitely merciful, everything becomes licit in the belief that in in any case any fall, any mistake will be justified and forgiven without any consequence. But what kind of announcement is this? In this way, to justify certain behaviors, to spread and give credibility to human thoughts, the truth is hindered, even if we talk about Jesus.

The apostles gave their lives to spread the truth, the only truth, without hesitation: "The next day their leaders, the elders and the scribes, the high priest Anna, Caiaphas, John, Alexander and all gathered in Jerusalem they belonged to families of high priests. They made them appear before them and asked them: "By what power or in what name did you do this?" [...] "What should we do to these men? [...] In order not to spread more among the people, we forbid them with threats to speak to anyone in that name again. "They called them back and ordered them not to speak in any way or to teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied: "If it is right before God to obey you instead of God, judge him. We cannot keep silent what we have seen and heard".
(Acts 4,5-20).

Even today, this must be the attitude of those who want to follow Jesus, implementing His teachings and believing in His truth: if we recognize Jesus as our guide, in us there will no longer be sin because, recognizing him and living as He says, we will be in communion with God, conquering salvation and eternal life: "I am the true vine and my Father is the farmer. Every branch that does not bear fruit in me, cuts it and every branch that bears fruit, prune it to bear more fruit. You are already pure, because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me and I in you (Jn 15: 1-4); "seek first the kingdom of God and do his will: all the rest God will give you more".
(Mt 6,33).

Even today, this must be the attitude of those who want to follow Jesus, implementing His teachings and believing in His truth: if we recognize Jesus as our guide, in us there will no longer be sin because, recognizing him and living as He says, we will be in communion with God, conquering salvation and eternal life: "I am the true vine and my Father is the farmer. Every branch that does not bear fruit in me, cuts it and every branch that bears fruit, prune it to bear more fruit. You are already pure, because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me and I in you (Jn 15: 1-4); "seek first the kingdom of God and do his will: all the rest God will give you more".
(Mt 6,33).

Il lievito - Luca

Dal Vangelo di Luca Capitolo 13, Versetti 20-21

E ancora: "A che cosa rassomiglierò il regno di Dio? È simile al lievito che una donna ha preso e nascosto in tre staia di farina, finché sia tutta fermentata".