Scripture Reading(s)
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
13:31 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field;
13:32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
13:33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
13:44 “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.
13:45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls;
13:46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
13:47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind;
13:48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad.
13:49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous
13:50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
13:51 “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.”
13:52 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.”
Reflections
The kingdom of Heaven is a valued treasure that we should seek with our whole hearts. Our earthly possessions and time on earth are all but temporary and should not be at the forefront of our minds. Instead, Jesus is calling us to focus on the eternal treasure that we will one day have with Him at the end of our lives.
Here Jesus is equipping His disciples for what is it come. In order to prepare for spending eternity with Christ, we must daily be pursuing an on going relationship with Him and spreading the Gospel. Our time now is limited and Jesus wants for us to understand the concept that regardless of what treasures we attain on earth, nothing will compare to the joys we gain in Heaven.
The point of this life is to keep our eyes on Christ and trust in His future promises of spending eternity with Him.