The Pearl of Great Price:

Matthew 13:45-46 “...Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it..."

What does a merchant look for?

- valuable items.

What do people look for?

- value in life.

- contentment, security, companionship, meaning.

What does the kingdom of heaven cost a person?

Isaiah 55:1 “...Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price..."

Revelation 3:18 "...I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see..."

The Net: Catching good and bad.

Matthew 13:47-50 “...Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth..."

Why do fishermen sort the fish that they catch?

- the net catches a variety of fish, some good, some bad.

How is this parable like the wheat/weeds parable?

- it points to a day of judgment.

- everyone doesn't face the same end.

- Jesus has no difficulty claiming that some are evil and some are righteous.

Can a person know whether they are a good fish or a bad fish?

Can a person make themselves a good fish or a bad fish?

Capice: Got it?

Matthew 13:51-52 “...Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old....”

Do we understand the seven parables?

What did the original hearers understand and not understand?

- the Messiah would reign, but world rulers would exist until the 2nd coming.

- there would be righteousness, but good and evil would coexist up to the 2nd coming.

- the kingdom would include a growing number of people, including Gentiles.

- the Old Covenant would lead into the New Covenant.

Walking with Jesus requires remembering old lessons and learning new ones.