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Jul
21

17th Sunday OT A: Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven

angfrayle on July 21st, 2008

Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a treasure buried in a field and a pearl of great price.  In doing so, he underlines the reality of the kingdom as something that is discovered.  When discovered, one has to give up all one has in order to possess it.  The idea that one has to give up all one has for the kingdom is consistent with the idea that Jesus tells his disciples about the cost of following him:  they have to give up all in order that Jesus alone can be their good.


Links to Res Biblica

The Treasure, The Pearl and the Dragnet
Giving Up All One Has For The Kingdom
See also this sermon from John Chrysostom

Question Guides for Reading

  1. Read Matthew 13:44-52; compare and contrast these parables: Is there anything in common or different among these parables?
  2. Enumerate the qualities of the kingdom of heaven that is compared with
    1. a buried treasure
    2. a pearl of great price
  3. Note the phrase "and he gave up all he had" repeated twice in Matthew 13:44.46. What does that tell you about the kingdom of heaven? Do you remember other similar ideas in the teachings of the Lord?
  4. Read the last parable on the dragnet (Matthew 13:47-50). Is it similar to the two previous parables? How is it different? Is it similar to any of the previous parables in Matthew 13?
  5. Take note of the phrase "throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. (Matthew 13:50)". Do you remember other places in the gospel of Matthew with this same phrase? Which are they (clue: see this article)?
  6. Read Matthew 13:51-52. How would you summarize these verses into one compact sentence?
  7. Who is the scribe trained for the kingdom of heaven? (clue: not just the doctor of theology)

Comparing the Gospel with the First Reading

The first reading is taken from 1 Kings 3:5.7-12, Solomon’s prayer on the occassion of the dedication of the Temple of Jerusalem and God’s response to this prayer. Note that because Solomon chose Wisdom, the other desirable goods that he did not ask for — wealth, life and power — were also granted to him. It is like what Jesus tells his disciples later on: Seek first the kingdom of heaven, and all these things will be given to you besides (see Matthew 6:33).

The Wisdom theme that was begun during the 15th Sunday of OT, A continues even here. The Wisdom theme in Matthew 13 is linked to the privilege that is granted to the disciples in their knowledge of Jesus and the Father. How do you understand Solomon’s prayer for Wisdom in the light of the privilege, enjoyed now by the disciples of the Lord, of their relationship with the Lord? (Hint: see Hebrews 11:32-40)

For Christians, Christ is the Wisdom of God (see 1 Corinthians 1:24, also Matthew 11:25-30). To the Christian, all has been given! How do you understand this in the light of today’s gospel reading?

The responsorial psalm from Psalm 119:127-128 echoes the idea that everything pales in significance when compared to the Wisdom of God.

Suggestions for the Lesson Plan

  1. Begin with the two parables of the kingdom and emphasize on two aspects: that the kingdom is something discovered, and that when found, one has to give up all one has to possess it. From here, one can go to those texts where Jesus talks about the cost of discipleship.
  2. One can link the above to the parables of the sower (15th Sunday) especially with regards to the types of soil that do not bear fruit. Of these types, the third’s unfruitfulness is due to anxiety and attachment to the world (Matthew 13:22).
Matthew 13:44-52
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
44The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in a field. Which a man having found, hid it, and for joy thereof goeth, and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant seeking good pearls.
46Who when he had found one pearl of great price, went his way, and sold all that he had, and bought it.
47Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a net cast into the sea, and gathering together of all kind of fishes.
48Which, when it was filled, they drew out, and sitting by the shore, they chose out the good into vessels, but the bad they cast forth.
49So shall it be at the end of the world. The angels shall go out, and shall separate the wicked from among the just.
50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51Have ye understood all these things? They say to him: Yes.
52He said unto them: Therefore every scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven, is like to a man that is a householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure new things and old.
Matthew 13:44
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
44The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in a field. Which a man having found, hid it, and for joy thereof goeth, and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Matthew 13:47-50
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
47Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a net cast into the sea, and gathering together of all kind of fishes.
48Which, when it was filled, they drew out, and sitting by the shore, they chose out the good into vessels, but the bad they cast forth.
49So shall it be at the end of the world. The angels shall go out, and shall separate the wicked from among the just.
50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:50
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:51-52
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
51Have ye understood all these things? They say to him: Yes.
52He said unto them: Therefore every scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven, is like to a man that is a householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure new things and old.
1 Kings 3:5
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg LXX Hebrew
5And the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, saying: Ask what thou wilt that I should give thee.
Matthew 6:33
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
33Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.
Hebrews 11:32-40
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
32And what shall I yet say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, Barac, Samson, Jephthe, David, Samuel, and the prophets:
33Who by faith conquered kingdoms, wrought justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered strength from weakness, became valiant in battle, put to flight the armies of foreigners:
35Women received their dead raised to life again. But others were racked, not accepting deliverance, that they might find a better resurrection.
36And others had trial of mockeries and stripes, moreover also of bands and prisons.
37They were stoned, they were cut asunder, they were tempted, they were put to death by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in want, distressed, afflicted:
38Of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts, in mountains, and in dens, and in caved of the earth.
39And all these being approved by the testimony of faith, received not the promise;
40God providing some better thing for us, that they should not be perfected without us.
1 Corinthians 1:24
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
24But unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Matthew 11:25-30
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
25At that time Jesus answered and said: I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to the little ones.
26Yea, Father; for so hath it seemed good in thy sight.
27All things are delivered to me by my Father. And no one knoweth the Son, but the Father: neither doth any one know the Father, but the Son, and he to whom it shall please the Son to reveal him.
28Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you.
29Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls.
30For my yoke is sweet and my burden light.
Psalm 119:127-128
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg LXX Hebrew
127Therefore have I loved thy commandments above gold and the topaz.
128Therefore was I directed to all thy commandments: I have hated all wicked ways.
Matthew 13:22
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
22And he that received the seed among thorns, is he that heareth the word, and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choketh up the word, and he becometh fruitless.
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