The Treasure and the Pearls

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field. Again the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all he had and bought it.”

(Matthew 13:44-45)

Into these two parables in sequence Jesus shows that the kingdom of heaven has no comparison in value with earthly kingdoms. He also shows to humans the right disposition each one has to have in order to reach that kingdom. No effort can be too much for that purpose because the material kingdom is nothing compared with eternal life of the spiritual kingdom of Paradise.

Each human being must set as the ultimate target of his existence to reach one day this celestial kingdom. He has to show, through his own behavior, the seriousness with which he takes his own salvation, with permanent efforts to live in accordance with the laws of God.

Here again becomes implicit the error of attachments to low values, such as ephemeral material things. And if any of those material values become an addiction to those who possess them, as it was in the case of the rich young man, it would be better then to dispose them all to permit the possibility of attaining the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus warned not to collect treasures on earth but only in heaven:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth and rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

(Matthew 6:19, 20)

Paul expressed the same with the words: “because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18). The great apostle lived with Greeks and their spiritual philosophy and this seems to have benefited this great apostle a lot…

The human being's warehouse will be stuffed from where his heart, i.e. his intuitive volition, points. Therefore he has to direct his volition to the heights, towards spiritual improvement, in order to store treasures in heaven. Terrestrial treasures cannot save any one in the Final Judgment: “Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord's wrath; in the fire of his passion the whole earth shall be consumed” (Zeph 1:18). Only the one that oriented his life as per the laws of God in Creation will receive help, not the one that anchored his hope in earthly wealth or money: “Lay up your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High, and it will profit you more than gold” (Sirach 29:11).

People acting the other way around, laying up treasures on earth, must heed James's severe warning: “Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasures for the last days” (James 5:3).

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