Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

  ⁴⁷  “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind;

 ⁴⁸  and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away.

 ⁴⁹  “So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous,

 ⁵⁰  and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 ⁵¹  “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes.”

 ⁵²  And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”  Matthew 13:44-52.

Here we have the Kingdom of Heaven Treasures:  hidden in the field, displayed in the marketplace, dragged in from the sea, and revealed by the saints.  What a contrast!

Let us look at Scripture which may give us further insights into the kingdom of heaven for each of these descriptions.

There is a sense that the kingdom of hidden is like a hidden treasure.  Proverbs 2:3-5 states:  
   ^“3  For if you cry for discernment,
         Lift your voice for understanding;
    ⁴  If you seek her as silver
         And search for her as for hidden treasures;
    ⁵  Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
         And discover the knowledge of God.”  Proverbs 2:3-5.  (Emphasis added.)

There is a sense that the kingdom of heaven is like a pearl displayed in the marketplace.  Everyone saw the pearl.  Everyone had the chance to buy the pearl.  But, few paid the price to get the pearl.  “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.  For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”  Romans 1:20-21.  We see creation everywhere which displays the glorious attributes of God.  We also have churches in every marketplace which also display the glorious attributes of God.  But, few truly pay the price necessary to obtain Him. 

There is a sense that the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet.  There are the good fish, and there are the bad fish.  There is the wheat, and there are the tares.  There are the sheep, and there are the goats.  God is sovereign and will separate the good from the bad, and God will throw the bad into hell and bring the good into heaven.  “So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  Matthew 13:49-50. 

There is a sense that the kingdom of heaven is revealed by the saints out of the treasure within their hearts as is stated above in Matthew 13:52:  “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”  “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.”  Matthew 7:17.  “The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.”  Matthew 12:35. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;”   2 Corinthians 4:7