Matthew 13:44

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus speaks to crowds and disciples, delivering the second of two paired parables on the kingdom of heaven, immediately after concluding the parable of the wheat and tares.

The words — θησαυρῷ (thēsaurō), "treasure," is the object that drives the entire action; the man's joy and his sale of all possessions follow from recognizing this one thing.

The thread — Paul's "I count as loss for the sake of Christ" (Philippians 3:7) is the lived-out version of the man selling all for the field; Colossians 2:3 locates the hidden treasure in Christ himself.

Why it lands — The parable does not ask how to find the treasure but what one does once value is recognized; it presents total cost as the rational response, not a sacrifice.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Proverbs 2:2 if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,
Colossians 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Philippians 3:7 But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 14:33 In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.
Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
Matthew 19:29 And 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.
Proverbs 16:16 How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
Proverbs 23:23 Invest in truth and never sell it—in wisdom and instruction and understanding.
Luke 18:23 But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.