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Matthew 13:44

in Matthew 13

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

KJV

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

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This verse in Matthew 13

Commentary

4 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field - Θησαυρω κεκρυμμενω, to a hidden treasure. We are not to imagine that the treasure here mentioned, and to which the Gospel salvation is likened, means a pot or chest of money hidden in the field, but rather a gold or silver mine, which he who found out could not get at, or work, without turning up the field, and for this purpose he bought it.

This site's exposition

treasure hid in a field

Treasure hid in a field pictures a common ancient practice, burying valuables for safekeeping in unsettled times, so that a field's true worth could be hidden from anyone but the man who found it. The bench notes the finder sells all that he hath for joy, not grudging sacrifice, and reads the parable as picturing the kingdom's worth once truly seen, whatever it costs to obtain becomes, from the far side of the discovery, no sacrifice at all.

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

on Matthew 13:44-50

The parables of the “treasure hidden in a field” and the “merchant man seeking goodly pearls,” appear intended to convey one the same lesson. They vary, no doubt, in one striking particular: the “treasure” was found of one who does not seem to have sought it; the “pearl” was found of one who was actually seeking pearls. But the conduct of the finders, in both cases, was precisely alike: both “sold all” to make the thing found their own property; and it is exactly at this point that the instruction of both parables agrees.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field--no uncommon thing in unsettled and half-civilized countries, even now as well as in ancient times, when there was no other way of securing it from the rapacity of neighbors or marauders.

The words behind it

31 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Proverbs 2:2–5if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,60 worksColossians 2:3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.40 worksPhilippians 3:7–9But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.39 worksMatthew 6:21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.38 worksLuke 14:33In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.33 worksHebrews 11:24–26By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.29 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Matthew 19:29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.26 worksProverbs 16:16How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.24 worksProverbs 23:23Invest in truth and never sell it—in wisdom and instruction and understanding.22 worksLuke 18:23–24But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.20 worksRevelation 3:18I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.18 worksColossians 3:3–4For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.18 works1 Corinthians 2:9–10Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”17 worksPsalms 119:14I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches.17 worksMatthew 19:27“Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?”16 worksMatthew 19:21Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”15 worksIsaiah 55:1“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!15 worksRomans 15:4For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.12 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Matthew 6:21

    For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

    it leads to

    • Colossians 3:1–3

      Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

    • Luke 12:34

      For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

    • 2 Corinthians 4:18

      So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

    • Proverbs 4:23

      Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

    • Isaiah 33:6

      He will be the sure foundation for your times, a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.

  • Through

    Luke 14:33

    In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.

    it leads to

    • Philippians 3:7–8

      But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.

    • 1 John 2:15–16

      Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

    • Luke 5:28

      and Levi got up, left everything, and followed Him.

Where this verse is studied

About Matthew

John the Baptist Baptizes Jesus — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
John the Baptist Baptizes Jesus — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
Matthew: the study guide →Read Matthew 13 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible and John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament.

Read on in Matthew 13 →